Gosford Private Maternity Services to close in March 2025

Private hospital operator Healthe Care has made the difficult decision to cease maternity services at Gosford Private Hospital at the end of March 2025.

The decision is a culmination of declining birth rates, decreasing demand for private maternity services on the Central Coast, increasing cost of living pressures, and challenges with private health insurance funding for private hospitals.

Nationwide, Gosford Private is the latest maternity service to announce its closure, following eight other private maternity services over the past 18 months.

“We are very aware of the impact this decision will have on the local community and expecting families in particular. Gosford Private has provided private maternity services for over 30 years, with thousands of local families choosing to begin their parenting journey with us.

Over the past 10 years we have seen a steady decline in the number of local families choosing to have their birth privately, with births falling by close to 40% during that time and forecasts for less private births in the years to come. We have now reached the point where it is no longer sustainable for us to continue to operate this service,” said Gosford Private Hospital CEO, Stephen Johnston.

Families who are booked to birth at Gosford Private will be supported through until the end of March 2025.

“We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of Obstetricians and a strong public maternity service locally. We are committed to supporting our local community and will remain open until Monday 31st March to provide continuity of care for those families who are already booked in to birth with us. We have been working with the Local Health District to ensure ongoing access to maternity services,” said Mr Johnston.

The closure will directly impact on the service’s 27 staff, with redeployment opportunities being explored across the Healthe Care group and in the Central Coast Local Health District.

“I want to express my gratitude for the tireless work of our Maternity Services staff. This decision in no way reflects the work they do and the exceptional care they provide for our patients,” said Mr Johnston.

Gosford Private Hospital will continue to provide women’s health services, paediatric surgery and paediatric services through its accredited Doctors.

Patients who are currently booked into Gosford Private Maternity Services are encouraged to speak with their Obstetrician about the next steps of their care.

Media Enquiries

Haydn Murray
Head of Marketing and Communications, Healthe Care
M: 0448 612 205
E: [email protected]