Women deserve choice when it comes to birthing their babies. The maternity services offered at Gosford Private hospital provides much-needed birthing options that may not be readily available in our public health services. Already, our public hospital and maternity services are operating under intense pressure. The impending closure of Gosford Private's maternity services scheduled for 1st April 2025, citing lack of funding, poses a serious threat to these choices and will unduly exacerbate the pressure on our already struggling health system.

This closure will narrow options for mothers and provoke a sharp increase in demand for public hospitals, which are struggling to cope even now. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that while birth rates have been increasing, the number of facilities offering birthing choices has not kept pace. The closure of the maternity ward at Gosford Private would only worsen this disparity.

We must protect the rights of mothers in having an array of birthing choices, and preserve the maternity department at Gosford Private. We cannot let financial restrictions determine the quality and availability of maternal health options.

We urge the people who make these decisions on the Central Coast to reconsider the closure and allocate adequate funding to Gosford Private's maternity services. Stand with us, sign this petition, and let us make positive childbirth choices available for all.