Fears new Catholic owner will cut IVF, abortion services as hospital sale gets greenlight

Topic:Health

Equality advocates have raised concerns that procedures like gender affirming services will no longer be made available at the hospital. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

In short:

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has approved the sale of the Hobart Private Hospital to Calvary Healthcare, ending fears about its future.

But there are concerns services including gender-affirming care, surgical terminations, vasectomies or fertility treatments won't be offered anymore.

What's next?

Health Minister Bridget Archer says she's committed to ensuring gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare remains accessible in the state and her department is looking at potential contingencies to make sure there are no service gaps.

Catholic provider Calvary Healthcare has received approval from the corporate watchdog to buy Hobart Private Hospital, despite concerns patients will no longer be able to access fertility services and gender-affirming care.

Hobart Private is a private hospital co-located with and adjacent to Hobart's main public hospital, Royal Hobart Hospital.

The Hobart Private Hospital will now be the fifth hospital in Tasmania operated by Calvary, after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave approval to buy it from Healthscope.

Calvary Healthcare currently operates St Vincent's Hospital and St Luke's Hospital in Launceston; and Lenah Valley Hospital and St John's Hospital in the south.

In May 2025, Healthscope's parent entities went into voluntary administration, and receivers and administrators were appointed to conduct an orderly sale of the hospitals in its network.

Engender Tasmania says Calvary's refusal to provide some health services is discriminatory. (ABC News)

At its other sites, Calvary follows a Catholic code and does not allow vasectomies, gender-affirming care, surgical terminations, voluntary assisted dying or fertility treatments, including IVF.

Concerns of service gap for Tasmanians

Yalei Wilson, from advocacy group Engender Tasmania, said it was a disappointing decision.

"Currently, Calvary hospitals do not allow gender affirming surgeries for trans and gender diverse people.

"Hobart Private does allow such surgeries, so when Calvary takes over, we can expect gender affirming surgeries to cease.

The operator of the Hobart Private Hospital has agreed to sell the facility to a Catholic healthcare provider, leading to concerns about access to surgical abortions, vasectomies and some other legal procedures.

"This may mean trans and gender-diverse Tasmanians have to seek treatment interstate, at great expense to themselves and to the state government.

"We urge the state government to step in and ensure existing services continue in Tasmania without disruption.

Yalei Wilson said Calvary's refusal to provide some health services was discriminatory and in violation of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

"We are also concerned that a Calvary takeover will make it harder for all Tasmanians, including LGBTIQA+ people, to access fertility treatments, contraceptive medication and surgeries, natal care and surgical terminations," they said.

The Australian Medical Association says is it is worried some services will be harder for Tasmanians to access. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

Better than nothing, says peak medical body

The Tasmania branch of Australian Medical Association said it was concerning Calvary Healthcare now had a monopoly across private hospitals in Hobart and Launceston.

AMA Tasmania president Dr Meg Creely told 936 ABC Hobart it was a worrying development.

"As the ACCC pointed out, it is better to have a private hospital, than no private hospital but the monopoly this gives Calvary across Tasmania is concerning," she said.

More Tasmania news

Topic:Antarctic Research

Topic:Air Incidents

Topic:Police

Topic:Housing Policy

Doctors are concerned Tasmanians will be forced to travel interstate for certain procedures if the Hobart Private Hospital is sold to Catholic provider Calvary, but the health minister insists there will be no service gap.

Health Department secretary Dale Webster said if Calvary had not taken over the Hobart Private, the state would have lost 140 private beds.

"Yes, Calvary are a faith-based organisation and we've been engaging with them since it was announced they were the prospective buyer, about what are the services that may be difficult for them to provide and working on alternatives," he said.

Mr Webster said by the time Calvary takes over, the services currently offered by Hobart Private will be offered by different providers, meaning no service gap.

"The services continue to be available at Hobart Private until the formal handover later this year.

Health Minister Bridget Archer said the sale was a "positive outcome".

"It will ensure the continued availability of private health services for Hobart and surrounds, helping to take pressure off our public system and supporting Tasmanians when they need it," she said.

"We understand the concerns raised around what services will be offered by Calvary and I note the ACCC's acknowledgement services would likely cease.

"We have been clear that we will ensure there is no service gap for vulnerable Tasmanians, with some services already resolved, such as IVF services, and we continue to work through details to resolve others.

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Promotion

Top Stories

LIVE

Topic:Retail Industry

Topic:Antarctic Research

Topic:War

Topic:Social Media

Top Stories

LIVE

Topic:Retail Industry

Topic:Antarctic Research

Topic:War

Topic:Social Media

Just In

Topic:Missing Person

Topic:Political Parties

Topic:Courts

Topic:Government and Politics

Fears new Catholic owner will cut IVF, abortion services as hospital sale gets greenlight

Topic:Health

Equality advocates have raised concerns that procedures like gender affirming services will no longer be made available at the hospital. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

In short:

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has approved the sale of the Hobart Private Hospital to Calvary Healthcare, ending fears about its future.

But there are concerns services including gender-affirming care, surgical terminations, vasectomies or fertility treatments won't be offered anymore.

What's next?

Hobart Private is a private hospital co-located with and adjacent to Hobart's main public hospital, Royal Hobart Hospital.

The Hobart Private Hospital will now be the fifth hospital in Tasmania operated by Calvary, after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave approval to buy it from Healthscope.

Calvary Healthcare currently operates St Vincent's Hospital and St Luke's Hospital in Launceston; and Lenah Valley Hospital and St John's Hospital in the south.

In May 2025, Healthscope's parent entities went into voluntary administration, and receivers and administrators were appointed to conduct an orderly sale of the hospitals in its network.

Engender Tasmania says Calvary's refusal to provide some health services is discriminatory. (ABC News)

At its other sites, Calvary follows a Catholic code and does not allow vasectomies, gender-affirming care, surgical terminations, voluntary assisted dying or fertility treatments, including IVF.

Concerns of service gap for Tasmanians

Yalei Wilson, from advocacy group Engender Tasmania, said it was a disappointing decision.

"Currently, Calvary hospitals do not allow gender affirming surgeries for trans and gender diverse people.

"Hobart Private does allow such surgeries, so when Calvary takes over, we can expect gender affirming surgeries to cease.

"This may mean trans and gender-diverse Tasmanians have to seek treatment interstate, at great expense to themselves and to the state government.

"We urge the state government to step in and ensure existing services continue in Tasmania without disruption.

Yalei Wilson said Calvary's refusal to provide some health services was discriminatory and in violation of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

The Australian Medical Association says is it is worried some services will be harder for Tasmanians to access. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)

Better than nothing, says peak medical body

The Tasmania branch of Australian Medical Association said it was concerning Calvary Healthcare now had a monopoly across private hospitals in Hobart and Launceston.

AMA Tasmania president Dr Meg Creely told 936 ABC Hobart it was a worrying development.

"As the ACCC pointed out, it is better to have a private hospital, than no private hospital but the monopoly this gives Calvary across Tasmania is concerning," she said.

More Tasmania news

Topic:Antarctic Research

Topic:Air Incidents

Topic:Police

Topic:Housing Policy

Health Department secretary Dale Webster said if Calvary had not taken over the Hobart Private, the state would have lost 140 private beds.

Mr Webster said by the time Calvary takes over, the services currently offered by Hobart Private will be offered by different providers, meaning no service gap.

"The services continue to be available at Hobart Private until the formal handover later this year.

Health Minister Bridget Archer said the sale was a "positive outcome".

"It will ensure the continued availability of private health services for Hobart and surrounds, helping to take pressure off our public system and supporting Tasmanians when they need it," she said.

"We understand the concerns raised around what services will be offered by Calvary and I note the ACCC's acknowledgement services would likely cease.