newy.com.au – Hunter IVF says it is “here to stay” in Newcastle and the Hunter, reassuring fertility patients concerned about Calvary Health Care’s proposed takeover of Newcastle Private Hospital, while questions remain about access to other reproductive and specialist healthcare.
Matty Morris reported the assurance on 105.3 NEWFM NIGHTS on Monday after contacting Hunter IVF. newy.com.au has confirmed the provider’s position obtaining written statement attributed to its clinical director, Dr Andrew Hedges.
“Hunter IVF is here to stay in Newcastle and the Hunter,” Dr Hedges said.
“We have supported the local community for more than 25 years, and our commitment to the region is long term.
“We are working closely with Calvary Health Care on future arrangements at Newcastle Private Hospital to ensure there will be no disruption to patient care.”
If the takeover proceeds, Hunter IVF may need an alternative hospital for procedures that cannot continue at Newcastle Private under Calvary’s policies.
The Newcastle Herald first reported the concerns over the weekend, highlighting the implications of Calvary’s Catholic healthcare policies for IVF services at Newcastle Private. Fertility specialist Dr Denise Nesbitt warned that more than 1,000 IVF patients a year could be affected. The Catholic healthcare code followed by Calvary prohibits facilities from providing IVF or referring patients for the treatment.
Newcastle Private, at New Lambton Heights, and Hunter Valley Private, at Shortland, are among 14 hospitals included in Calvary’s proposed acquisition of further Healthscope facilities. Healthscope’s receivers announced the agreements in September, targeting completion on 30 November, subject to regulatory approvals. Healthscope entered receivership in May 2025.
A Wallsend resident who spoke anonymously to newy.com.au said they had fertility material stored at the clinic and wanted to know what would happen to it if facilities had to move.
The resident raised questions about continuity of treatment, whether services would remain nearby and how any relocation of stored material would be managed.
“It’s crazy to think in 2026 religion could get in the way of starting a family, it’s not 1926, as someone who was told I’d never be able to have kids, the last person you’d think would interfere would be the hospital itself,” the resident said.
The potential effects on women, same sex couples, single parents and other families seeking fertility treatment have also prompted calls for safeguards before the hospital licences change hands.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp wrote to Health Minister Ryan Park on 2 November seeking assurances that gynaecological, fertility and obstetric procedures currently performed at Newcastle Private would remain accessible to Hunter residents. His letter also raised concerns about voluntary assisted dying.
Federal Hunter MP Dan Repacholi has opposed any reduction in access to IVF, pregnancy terminations and sterilisation procedures.
“These are personal decisions for patients and their doctors. A change of hospital ownership shouldn’t take those choices away,” he said.
In a submission to NSW Health dated 31 October, Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said securing the hospitals’ future should not come at the expense of established services or patient choice. He warned that losing local treatment options could create additional costs and travel and put further pressure on public hospitals.
“Same-sex couples should not lose access to fertility treatment or the opportunity to start families because a hospital changes ownership,” Cr Clausen wrote.
His submission sought enforceable assurances covering IVF, abortion, contraception and voluntary assisted dying. It also called for scrutiny of Calvary’s financial and operational capacity.
The Catholic healthcare code restricts contraception, deliberate sterilisation and certain gender affirming procedures.
Patients concerned about current or planned fertility treatment are being encouraged by IVFAustralia to contact its local team on 02 4957 8515.
NSW Health is considering the applications to transfer both hospital licences. Residents can make submissions through the NSW Government’s Have Your Say portal until 11.59pm on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. NSW Health says the feedback will inform its decisions on the applications.
