Maternity services deal struck with Calvary

Calvary Private Hospital will increase its maternity services in Hobart to take up the shortfall since the announcement by Hobart Private Hospital that it would be stopping the provision of maternity services.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced this morning that Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma has secured a multi-million-dollar investment from the Federal Government to upgrade Calvary’s equipment and infrastructure, ensuring it can meet the additional demand. 

“It will also allow us to move the mother and baby unit from the RHH, to a specialist facility at St John's Park in New Town - where mothers who are going through postnatal challenges can get the care they need, outside of a major hospital setting,” he said.

“With this solution, we're going to make sure that new mums get more care - at one of the most important times of their life.

“And to the midwives and extended maternity team who have done such an immense job for so long at the Hobart Private Hospital, we'll be soon reaching out to talk to those who wish to continue working in the best State in the country.”

The Federal Government will provide $6 million in funding to the Tasmanian Health Service and Calvary Lenah Valley, to support the expected increase in demand for maternity services across the public and private system following Healthscope’s withdrawal of services.

Healthscope announced it would close maternity services at Hobart Private Hospital from August 20, citing difficulty in recruiting and maintaining midwives to work in the maternity ward.

This has led to the hospital flying in and accommodating up to six full time agency midwives, representing up to half of the midwives needed to staff the ward, making the service unviable.