NSW Gov
The Minns Labor Government has today finalised the transition of the Northern Beaches Hospital to the public health system, bringing the facility into public hands and correcting one of the worst privatisation mistakes in NSW history.
The deal, entered into by the former Coalition government, left the Northern Beaches community saddled with a model that prioritised private profits over patient care.
Following almost eight years of private ownership, Northern Beaches Hospital is now fully operated as a public hospital and part of NSW Health.
An operational command centre has been set up at the hospital to support the transition and the first days of the handover.
The Minns Government first announced the Northern Beaches Hospital Taskforce in April 2025, to investigate the future of the disastrous public private partnership left behind by the Liberals and Nationals.
This followed the reporting of the tragic death of baby Joe Massa at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Elouise and Danny Massa, the parents of two-year-old Joe Massa, have been tireless advocates for the facility being brought into public hands.
Their efforts have led to one of the most significant moments in NSW Health history with the hospital now entering the public system, as well as the passing of Joe’s Law, a legal commitment by the NSW Government to protect our acute public hospitals from any future Liberal privatisation.
The Minns Labor Government continues to repair the damage caused by the former Coalition Government’s failed privatisation agenda, which also included the attempted privatisation of hospitals at Maitland, Wyong, Goulburn, Shellharbour and Bowral.
The Minns Government would like to thank Northern Beaches Hospital staff and the transition team for their work throughout the transition of the facility.
As part of the transition, more than 1,800 Northern Beaches Hospital staff – including nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health professionals and support staff – have now joined the NSW Health team.
Following the transition of the hospital to public ownership, the Northern Beaches community can be assured they will continue to have access to private services until 30 June 2027, while the Government continues to work with the community and clinicians to finalise and implement a long-term plan for private services.
As well as bringing the hospital back into public hands the Minns Labor Government is establishing the State’s first High Volume Planned Surgery Centre at Northern Beaches Hospital, expanding the hospital’s role and helping reduce surgery wait times across NSW.
Quotes attributable to Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:
“Bringing this hospital back into public hands means the people of the Northern Beaches can have confidence their hospital is being run in the public interest.
“I want to thank Elouise and Danny Massa. Nothing can undo what they’ve been through, but their courage in pushing for change means other families won’t have to experience the same heartbreak.
“This will also have a positive impact on the broader NSW Health system when the surgical centre is up and running absorbing some of the pressure from the rest of system.”
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:
“This is a milestone we never should’ve had to mark. This hospital should have been publicly run from the day it opened.
“We have listened to patients, staff and the wider community in righting this wrong.
“Shockingly, this is the sort of failed privatisation agenda the Liberals and Nationals are refusing to rule out, less than a year from the next election.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“This is a historic day for the people of the Northern Beaches and for the NSW public health system.
“The Minns Government has, in just over twelve months, reversed one of the worst privatisation failures our state has ever seen.
“We have worked with an urgency and speed to provide certainty for the community, patients and staff. We thank the staff for their hard work and cooperation in the lead up to the transition.
“I want to thank and acknowledge Elouise and Danny Massa, whose unwavering advocacy, strength, and courage in the wake of tragedy has left a lasting legacy.
“I want to reassure the community, thanks to Joe’s Law, our acute public hospitals are protected from future Liberal privatisation.”
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