Northern Beaches Advocate:
The private operator of Northern Beaches Hospital has offered to negotiate an early return into public hands.
Healthscope runs Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest under an arrangement with NSW Health known as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). Both public and private patients are admitted and treated at the hospital...
Concerns about the arrangement have been raised for some time, with Member for Mackellar and former emergency doctor Dr Sophie Scamps raising shortcomings such as the lack of youth mental health beds. Because of the PPP, adjustments to the services at the hospital must be negotiated and agreed with Healthscope rather than decided solely by NSW Health. Dr Scamps called for the hospital to be taken back into public hands.
Matters have recently come to a head following the death of two-year-old Joe Massa from Balgowlah in September 2024 and the announcement of a NSW parliamentary inquiry last month (14 March) into the operation of the hospital.
Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby, who supported Dr Scamps’ calls for the hospital to be returned into public hands, warned against complacency.
“The news that the hospital’s operators Healthscope have proposed the return of Northern Beaches Hospital to the NSW public system is a welcome development toward ensuring our community receives high-quality, affordable healthcare.
“But the deal is not yet done. We have a short window of opportunity to put significant pressure on the NSW government to acquire the hospital with the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the hospital currently underway.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people who have had adverse experiences to make submissions to the inquiry before it ends on 20 May. This is our opportunity to cement our case for returning it to public hands and will put pressure on the government to act.
“I want to reassure our community that there will be no disruption to health services at Northern Beaches Hospital while any discussions around this proposal take place. The safety and care of our residents is my top priority, and I will work alongside the Government to ensure continuity of care,” said Ms Scruby.