local - 2026-05-08

Northern Beaches Hospital Enters New Era Under Public Ownership

NSW Health assumes control of the 494-bed Frenchs Forest facility after state acquires assets from Healthscope in a $190 million deal

After years of community concern and political debate, Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest has formally passed into public hands. NSW Health assumed operational control of the 494-bed facility in late April 2026, bringing to a close a public-private partnership arrangement that had been in place since the hospital first opened its doors in 2018.

After years of community concern and political debate, Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest has formally passed into public hands. NSW Health assumed operational control of the 494-bed facility in late April 2026, bringing to a close a public-private partnership arrangement that had been in place since the hospital first opened its doors in 2018. The transition followed a $190 million agreement between the NSW Government and Healthscope, the private operator that had managed the hospital since its inception. Under the deal, the state acquired the hospital's assets and assumed responsibility for all services, with more than 1,800 staff — including nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and doctors — transferred into the public system. Employment conditions and accrued leave entitlements were carried across during the changeover. ## Command Centre Established to Manage Transition To oversee the early stages of the handover, health authorities established an on-site command centre at the hospital. Officials acknowledged that some short-term disruptions were possible as administrative systems and clinical processes were aligned under the NSW Health framework. Patients...