Maternity services in political focus

EDITORIAL –

The Central Coast’s maternity services are shaping up to be a key issue in the upcoming federal election.

This week Labor’s Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced a $10M funding package aimed at bolstering maternity care in our region.

This initiative comes in response to the impending closure of Gosford Private Hospital’s maternity unit, scheduled for the end of this month.​

Gosford Private Hospital, operated by Healthe Care, has been an important provider of private maternity services on the Central Coast for over three decades.

However, the operator says factors such as declining birth rates over the past 10 years and challenges with private health insurance funding have led to the difficult decision to cease maternity services effective March 31.

The announced federal funding aims to support upgrades at Central Coast public hospitals to manage the anticipated increase in demand for maternity services.

It’s important to note that challenges in our region’s maternity services are not new.

Wyong Hospital’s birthing clinic was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to reopen, a situation that this new funding may help address.

Let’s not forget that last year we reported that The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists signalled that they were considering not operating the birthing clinic at Gosford Hospital due to poor staffing levels of nurses and midwives.

CCN subsequently reported that Central Coast Local Health District is developing a Clinical Services Plan for Women, Children, and Families to adapt to these changes and the region’s projected population growth, though that plan is yet to see the light of day.

In the political arena, the Liberal Party’s candidates for the upcoming federal election Lucy Wicks and Brendan Small are calling for an inquiry into the decline of maternity services on the Central Coast.

They argue that understanding the root causes is essential for developing long-term solutions to ensure that families in our community have access to high-quality maternity care.​

While the timing of Minister Butler’s funding announcement, on the cusp of a federal election, has raised some eyebrows, the investment is undeniably a positive step toward addressing the immediate needs of expectant mothers in our region.

As developments unfold, CCN remains committed to providing comprehensive coverage and keeping our readers informed.​

We encourage our community members to engage in this crucial conversation, by questioning their candidates for details and/or writing to us.

David Abrahams – Managing Editor