The $10 million federal funding comes ahead of the closure of the area’s only private maternity service.
The federal government has dropped $10 million into NSW government health coffers to support the expected increase in demand for maternity services on the Central Coast.
This follows Healthe Care’s decision to stop providing the only private maternity services in the region at Gosford Private Hospital at the end of this month.
The funding will support upgrades to improve maternity services at Central Coast Hospitals (Gosford and Wyong), along with workforce support and training.
NSW regional health minister Ryan Park welcomed the contribution.
“We know the closure of private maternity services will add pressure on our public system, and these additional funds will support our efforts to ensure women and their families have access to safe, high quality maternity care,” he said.
Federal health minister Mark Butler said the government had heard the concerns of the Central Coast community and is taking immediate action before the private maternity services close at the end of March.
“Our funding will restore certainty and support for women and their babies at this crucial time, making it easier for them to get the local care they need without having to leave their community,” he said.
Federal assistant rural and regional health minister Emma McBride said she had worked at Wyong Hospital for a decade and knew how important access to quality healthcare services were for the growing community.
“This funding demonstrates the federal Labor government’s commitment to making sure women and families on the Central Coast have maternity services close to home,” she said.
Local Robertson MP Dr Gordon Reid said it was “absolutely critical that women have access to maternity services here on the Central Coast”.
“As the local federal member and a practising doctor, I understand the importance of maternity services to both the mother and baby. This funding announcement shows the federal government is listening to the concerns of women across the Central Coast.
“Women in our region deserve and should expect world class maternity care, close to where they live.”