What the Northern Beaches Community Needs to Know About the 2026 Hospital Transition

You’ve probably heard that Northern Beaches Hospital will transition to full public operation in 2026.

What many people don’t realise is that a fully public hospital cannot automatically deliver the same services this hospital delivers today, especially without a clear, detailed plan in place.

Despite what some headlines have suggested, Northern Beaches Hospital is not underperforming. Independent data shows it is one of the strongest-performing hospitals in NSW. In fact, government data confirms that the hospital consistently delivers high-quality care, including some of the best elective surgery performance in the state.

The reason the hospital performs so well is because public and private services operate together on the same site. This co-located model allows staff, operating theatres, specialist teams and equipment to be shared, creating flexibility, efficiency and access to care that benefits the entire community.

The Missing Piece: A Clinical Services Plan

Right now, the biggest issue facing Northern Beaches Hospital is uncertainty.

There is no confirmed Clinical Services Plan outlining how care will be delivered after the transition. Specifically, there has been no clear explanation of:

• How services will operate

• Which private services will remain

• How operating theatres will be managed

• How workforce stability will be protected

This lack of clarity is not theoretical, it is already having real consequences.

Clinicians do not know whether they will be able to continue operating at Northern Beaches Hospital in the future. To protect continuity of care for their patients and avoid delays to essential treatment, some clinicians are already moving services to hospitals where operating conditions are certain. If uncertainty continues, more may follow.

Why This Matters to Our Community

The reason the hospital performs so well is because public and private services operate together on the same site. This co-located model allows staff, operating theatres, specialist teams and equipment to be shared, creating flexibility, efficiency and access to care that benefits the entire community.

• Patients don’t disappear.

• Demand doesn’t drop.

• Emergencies don’t stop.

If clinical capacity leaves the Northern Beaches before a clear and workable plan is in place, it is local access to care that is lost. That means longer wait times, more travel for families, and increased pressure on surrounding hospitals.

As a community, we have the right to transparency, certainty and continuity. We also have the right to expect that commitments made about our local hospital, including access to high-quality care close to home, are honoured.

Change can be done well. But it must be done with clarity, planning and collaboration.

A commitment was made. Let’s protect it.