With the operator of Gosford Private Hospital Healthe Care ceasing private maternity services, Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) has expanded its services to meet the expected additional demand for maternity care.
Gosford Hospital provides comprehensive 24-hour midwifery, obstetric, anaesthetic, and paediatric support, including a Special Care Nursery.
CCLHD is meeting regularly with local private obstetricians to ensure a smooth transition for women who choose to birth with a private provider at Gosford Hospital.
Earlier this month, the Federal Government announced $10 million commitment to support the Minns Labor Government to support existing local maternity services available to the Central Coast community.
Approximately 3,000 babies are born each year with the support of CCLHD’s maternity services. Gosford Hospital is preparing for up to an additional 400 births annually following the closure of Gosford Private Hospital’s maternity services.
A recruitment drive to fill vacant senior obstetrics and gynaecology positions has been successful, including recently commenced individual Heads of Department for Obstetrics, and for Gynaecology.
Further visiting medical officer and staff specialist positions are currently being recruited.
Maternity care is provided across the CCLHD with birthing services at Gosford Hospital or with the publicly-funded homebirth service, which offers women with low-risk pregnancies the choice to birth at home.
Women are also able to access antenatal care at Wyong Hospital and postnatal care in their home through Midwifery in the Home. In addition, women and their families have access to child and family health services across the Central Coast, to support breastfeeding, infant feeding, early parenting, child development, and immunisation.
To ensure CCLHD’s obstetrics and gynaecology services continue to meet the needs of the community well into the future, a clinical services plan for its women, children and families’ services is being developed, with a focus on maternity services.
To support development of the plan the community is being asked to provide their insights via a survey promoted on social media, throughout CCLHD’s women, children and families’ services and on the CCLHD website here: https://www.cclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services/maternity/ The survey closes April 4, 2025.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said: “I can assure women on the Central Coast that they can rely on safe, high-quality maternity care should they choose to give birth at Gosford Hospital.
“The recent recruitment efforts of the Local Health District means Gosford Hospital is well placed to handle the expected increase in activity.”
Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said: “The NSW Government is committed to safe, high quality health facilities and hospitals for all Central Coast residents. The expansion of services at Gosford Hospital for maternity care continues this commitment.
“We know there has been strong interest in midwifery opportunities with almost all vacant permanent positions filled, ensuring CCLHD has enough highly skilled and experienced midwives to support Central Coast women.”
