# Scone maternity service closure concerns

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/scone-maternity-service-closure-concerns
> Updated: 2026-09-01T00:45:00.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 3.

The retirement of the final obstetrician at Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone has prompted a campaign to preserve local maternity services in the Upper Hunter region.

Local healthcare workers, including the Scone branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, have launched an e-petition urging NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to intervene. Advocates argue that the loss of these services will force residents to travel approximately two and a half hours to Maitland Hospital for antenatal, birthing, and postnatal care, which they claim increases the risk of birth trauma and travel-related complications during labor.

As the campaign progresses, the Upper Hunter Shire Council has joined the call for urgent intervention from the Health Minister. Protesters and local politicians emphasize that the growing population in the Upper Hunter necessitates the maintenance of 24/7 maternity services to avoid the risks and stress associated with long-distance travel for essential medical assessments and treatments.

## Claims

- Upper Hunter Shire Council is seeking urgent assistance from NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to retain maternity services at Scott Memorial Hospital. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The final obstetrician at Scott Memorial Hospital has announced their upcoming retirement. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Without local services, residents will have to travel two and a half hours to Maitland Hospital for maternity care. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Scone branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association has launched an e-petition to save the hospital's maternity services. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-01: Upper Hunter Council seeks to save Scott Memorial Hospital maternity services

Upper Hunter Shire Council is seeking urgent help from NSW Health to retain maternity services at Scone's Scott Memorial Hospital following the retirement of its last obstetrician.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/upper-hunter-council-seeks-to-save-scott-memorial-hospital-maternity-services

### 2026-08-19: Scone midwives petition to save local maternity services

Midwives in Scone, Australia, have launched a petition to save maternity services at Scott Memorial Hospital following the retirement of the facility's last obstetrician.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/scone-midwives-petition-to-save-local-maternity-services

### 2026-08-17: Scone maternity services face closure following obstetrician retirement

The retirement of the last obstetrician at Scone’s Scott Memorial Hospital has left the Upper Hunter without local maternity services, forcing residents to travel two and a half hours to Maitland.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/scone-maternity-services-face-closure-following-obstetrician-retirement

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Cite as: Scone maternity service closure concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/scone-maternity-service-closure-concerns