Media Releases

I welcome the news that the Northern Beaches community will continue to have access to private health services at Northern Beaches Hospital.

Private health services provide important choice for people with private insurance. This is particularly significant in our community, where a high proportion of residents hold private health cover and rely on timely access to elective surgery and specialist care.

As the Australian Medical Association has highlighted, more than 20,000 private surgeries are performed at Northern Beaches Hospital each year. Without the continuation of private services, many of these patients would have been forced onto already stretched public hospital waiting lists or required to travel significant distances to access private care elsewhere.

Maintaining private services will help preserve patient choice, reduce pressure on the public system and support the retention of specialist skills locally.

I am also pleased that the option of a private hospital on the site is being actively considered. Ensuring a sustainable model that continues to deliver both public and private healthcare services is vital for meeting the growing needs of our community.

I commend Jacqui Scruby, the NSW Member for Pittwater, and Michael Regan, the NSW Member for Wakehurst, for advocating to the NSW Government to secure this outcome.

I also acknowledge and thank the many community members who have worked tirelessly to raise their concerns and ensure the unique healthcare needs of the Northern Beaches were clearly understood. I also thank the medical staff who lobbied strongly for the continuation of private services. Their commitment to patient care and their advocacy on behalf of our community have been instrumental in achieving this result.

I will continue to consult with the community on this issue and advocate for high-quality, accessible healthcare for all residents of the Northern Beaches.