New law to force Darwin Private Hospital operators to provide maternity care

Key points

• The Northern Territory government will require all future operators of Darwin Private Hospital to provide private maternity services, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says. Calvary Health Care is expected to take over the hospital before the end of the year, after Healthscope closed its private maternity ward and went into receivership.
• Critics say rebuilding a maternity ward could take at least two years, citing the need for obstetricians, paediatricians, anaesthetists, midwives and equipment. Maternity advocacy group Our Birth, Our Voice welcomed the decision.
• The legislation is expected to be tabled in parliament next week.