NBCA STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
NBCA STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
The Northern Beaches Clinicians Alliance (NBCA) says the announcement that Northern Beaches Hospital will become a ‘high-volume surgery hub’ raises serious concerns about process, transparency and the protection of local care.
“On its own, this announcement is light on detail and heavy on slogans,” said NBCA spokesperson Dr David Dickison.
“For clinicians and patients on the Northern Beaches, the unanswered questions matter far more than the headline.”
Northern Beaches Hospital is already one of the best-performing hospitals in NSW, delivering timely surgery and strong emergency care outcomes. NBCA says that makes the lack of clarity around the announcement particularly troubling.
“When a hospital that is already working well is singled out for major change, the community is entitled to understand why and what problem is actually being solved,” Dr Dickison said.
There are emerging signs that the Government is beginning to acknowledge the hospital’s proven efficiency and performance. However, recognising that capability must not come at the cost of treating the local community and at present, there is no detail to show how that will be avoided.
“If the Government is recognising the efficiency and performance of Northern Beaches Hospital and seeking to harness that capability, that should be welcomed,” Dr Dickison said.
“But it must not come at the cost of treating the local community and at present, there is no detail to show how that will be avoided.”
Process and Consultation
NBCA says senior clinicians were not consulted prior to the announcement and were informed after it was made public.
“For a long time, clinicians were told decisions were still being worked through,” Dr Dickison said.
“The Government’s announcement suggests a level of certainty that was never shared with those delivering care.”
No detailed clinical services plan, workforce impact assessment or transition framework has been released.
“You cannot responsibly redesign a hospital without the clinicians who staff it,” Dr Dickison said.
“That is a fundamental flaw in the process so far.”
What the Community Is Already Experiencing
NBCA says the impact of uncertainty is not theoretical, it is already being felt by patients and families across the Northern Beaches.
“We are hearing directly from community members who say their care is already changing,” Dr Dickison said.
Patients have reported:
surgeries being moved to other hospitals
appointments being rescheduled or relocated
changes to ongoing or follow-up care
“These are not abstract concerns about the future,” Dr Dickison said.
“These are real experiences happening now and they understandably alarm people who rely on this hospital.”
The NBCA says this reinforces the need for transparency and clear safeguards.
“When change begins to show up in people’s actual care, trust erodes very quickly,” Dr Dickison said.
“That is why clarity matters.”
What’s at Risk for the Northern Beaches
Northern Beaches Hospital is now the region’s only full-service hospital, following the closures of Manly and Mona Vale.
“This is the third time our community has been asked to give up hospital access,” Dr Dickison said.
“That context matters.”
NBCA warns that without explicit protections, increased surgical throughput for patients from outside the region risks diluting local access.
“When care leaves the Beaches, patients don’t stop needing treatment,” Dr Dickison said.
“They travel further, wait longer, or miss out altogether.”
The Northern Beaches also has one of the highest rates of private health insurance in Australia, a factor clinicians say has long helped sustain specialist services and reduce pressure on the public system.
“Private participation here has been part of the solution, not the problem,” Dr Dickison said.
What Clinicians Are Seeking Now
NBCA says it has been given assurances that continuity of services and a seamless transition are intended but stresses those commitments must now be clearly articulated and reflected in practice.
“Good intentions are not enough,” Dr Dickison said.
“Clinicians and the community need to see how local access, specialist services and workforce stability will actually be protected.”
The Alliance is calling on the NSW Government to publicly confirm that:
Northern Beaches patients will be prioritised
existing public and private services will be retained
specialist teams will be supported to remain at NBH
clinicians will be directly involved in transition planning and governance
“This hospital was built for the Northern Beaches,” Dr Dickison said.
“Our expectation is that it continues to serve this community in practice, not just in name.”
