Manly Observer: The parent company of Healthscope, the private operator of Northern Beaches Hospital and one of Australia’s largest private hospital companies, has gone into receivership.
It is understood that the company’s lenders voted to end their support for current owner Brookfield, which has allegedly been unable to meet the financial obligations required to keep facilities operational.
Healthscope confirmed with Manly Observer this afternoon that its parent entities have entered receivership, with its lenders appointing McGrathNicol Restructuring to “work with Healthscope management to complete an orderlysale of the business.”...
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby also issued an immediate statement calling for the state government to buy the entire hospital site rather than look at just reclaiming the privately-operated public arm of the medical service.
“The news that Northern Beaches Hospital operator Healthscope is entering into partial receivership confirms long standing concerns about the failure of the public private hospital from both a healthcare and financial perspective,” Ms Scruby began.
“It is now crunch time. With hedge fund backers pushing for Healthscope’s’ assets to be sold, the NSW Government must seize this opportunity to buy not just the public beds, but the entire Northern Beaches Hospital. Northern Beaches residents deserve a hospital with enough beds and services to meet the needs of our growing community, now and into the future.
“I have been briefed by the Treasurer and Health Minister this morning and have been assured that contingency plans are in place and that it will continue to ensure healthcare services are provided without interruption at the Northern Beaches Hospital, including its 24/7emergency department, surgeries and maternity. I’ve also called for a hotline to be established.
“The government has also said that continuity of care and patient safety remain a priority, along with protection of the rights and entitlements of staff and that they have a NSW Health executive team to step in if required.
“Buying the hospital isn’t enough. There must also be increased operational investment to address the systemic dysfunction, chronic staff shortages and underfunding identified by doctors, nurses and the recent independent NSW Auditor General’s report.
“The audit and health worker whistleblowers have confirmed what our community has long known: The Northern Beaches Hospital privatisation has failed to deliver safe, integrated care and has systemic dysfunction.”