Another private hospital is poised to shut down maternity services in Queensland, as new data shows a significant shift away from private births.
Mater Private Hospital Redland is expected to close maternity services late next month, citing workforce issues and patient safety concerns.
It follows theend of birthing services at Cairns Private Hospital late last year, at Sunnybank Private in 2022 and the Mater Gladstone in 2018.
The decline in private maternity services is an issue nationwide, withEpworth Hospital in Geelong, Victoria, also closing its maternity ward last year, blaming workforce shortages.
Other hospitals to shut down birthing wards in the past five years include Knox Private in Victoria andNorth West Private in Tasmania.
The ongoing closures of private maternity services across the country have triggered renewed calls for a Senate inquiry into birthing care in Australia.
Fewer births happening in private hospitalsIt comes as Queensland Health data shows fewer women giving birth in private hospitals during the past decade.
In 2021, about 14,000 women gave birth in private facilities in Queensland out of more than 62,000 deliveries.
Ten years earlier, almost 18,000 Queensland women gave birth in private maternity units from about 61,000 deliveries.
In a statement, Mater Health said a nationwide shortage of paediatricians to attend births was impacting the ability of its Redland private hospital in delivering maternity services.
"Mater is consulting with its staff and specialists on a proposal to end private birth services at Mater Private Hospital Redland," a spokesperson said.
"We acknowledge that this is a disappointing situation for Mater and the community, but the proposal has been driven solely by the need to maintain patient safety."
Last year, 218 births were recorded at Mater Private Hospital Redland, compared with 408 in 2013.
