Private maternity services

• On this page
• How to access
• Contact
• Information sessions

Healthscope’s Darwin Private Hospital (DPH) will close its maternity services on Friday 6 June 2025.

This means private patients will no longer be able to give birth in or stay at the private hospital.

Private patients will now have access to birthing facilities in the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).

The RDH does not have the infrastructure to provide private room accommodation.

To ensure continuity of care, NT Health has been working in partnership with major private insurers to develop alternative private maternity models and experiences, which will complement the current public services at RDH.

While we have developed a range of private maternity options, these will not replace or replicate the services provided at DPH.

The safe and supportive private maternity care packages that have been developed include:

• private obstetrician-led care
• private midwife-led care
• private patient post-natal options including a maternity retreat and go home sooner package.

Read the frequently asked questions about the new private maternity arrangements.

How to access

A private patient liaison officer is available to help you.

Contact by phone on 08 8999 2509 or email info.nthealthprivatematernity@nt.gov.au.

Self-funded or overseas health insured patients can also use this service.

Contact

Families affected by the closure can contact the transition nurse unit manager by emailing MaternityCare.RDPH@nt.gov.au.

They can answer any questions you may have and provide you with support.

You can also get prenatal and postnatal mental health support via the MumSpace website.

For more information about the postnatal packages, email info.nthealthprivatematernity@nt.gov.au.

Information sessions

You can attend an information session to help you better understand the new arrangements.

NT Health information session

NT Health is hosting an information session for expectant families on Thursday 22 May from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the Mecure Darwin Airport Resort.

You can view the accommodation and talk to specialist staff about birthing at RDH and the private maternity options available.

Register your attendance by emailing Info.NTHealthprivatematernity@nt.gov.au

RDH maternity information sessions

RDH maternity services will also be holding small group and one-on-one sessions for expectant families transitioning over from the private system, to provide information about:

• the services
• models of care and discharge supports
• what to expect during birth
• staying in the hospital
• postnatal care.

The education sessions will be held at the RDH Antenatal Clinic on Level 8 on:

• Tuesday 27 May 2025 from 5.30pm to 7pm
• Saturday 31 May 2025 from 9am to 10.30am

The session schedule includes:

• meet the team
• care straight after birth
• settling into the maternity ward
• length of stay and discharge planning
• feeding your baby in the first week
• newborn behaviour and what to expect
• when to seek help after discharge
• the domiciliary team
• discharge support.

For more information contact the transition nurse on 0474 217 962 or email MaternityCare.RDPH@nt.gov.au.