Northern Beaches Hospital maternity guide

Northern Beaches Hospital is a public hospital in Frenchs Forest. Since 29 April 2026 it has been run by Northern Sydney Local Health District, part of NSW Health. Healthscope ran the hospital until then. Its maternity service cares for public and private patients who live in the Northern Beaches council area, and the NSW Government says private services will continue under an interim arrangement until 30 June 2027. If you are in labour or worried, call the Birthing Unit day or night on (02) 9105 5240. For bookings, call Maternity Bookings on (02) 9105 6015.

Northern Beaches Hospital maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Public, with private maternity care still offered
• Run by: Northern Sydney Local Health District, since 29 April 2026
• In labour: Call the Birthing Unit on (02) 9105 5240, day or night
• Pregnancy care options: MGP, MAPS, GP shared care, hospital clinics, private obstetrician
• Birthing Unit: 10 birthing suites on Level 2, three with birthing pools
• Nursery: Special Care Nursery for babies from 32 weeks
• Maternity ward: Up to 20 private and 20 public patients

Where is Northern Beaches Hospital maternity, and how do I contact it?

• Address: Northern Beaches Hospital, 105 Frenchs Forest Road West, Frenchs Forest NSW 2086
• Birthing Unit: (02) 9105 5240, day or night, Level 2
• Maternity Bookings: (02) 9105 6015, for bookings and questions about private care without insurance
• Hospital switchboard: (02) 9105 5000
• In labour: take a lift to Level 2 and follow the signs to the Birthing Unit.

How do I book in at Northern Beaches Hospital maternity?

Public and private patients both register online through the hospital website early in pregnancy. Public patients are asked to book in by 10 weeks, and private patients by 20 weeks.

1. See your GP. Your GP confirms the pregnancy and writes a referral. For public care, the referral goes to the hospital's obstetric staff specialists. For private care, it goes to the obstetrician you choose.
2. Register online at 8 to 10 weeks. Log in through the Northern Beaches Hospital website and fill in your registration and health history.
3. Wait for the call. For public care, a maternity bookings clerk contacts you with your first midwife appointment, usually at 14 to 16 weeks. For private care, a private liaison midwife contacts you about your booking-in visit.
4. Bring your results. Take your referral, all your pregnancy blood tests (including NIPT if you had it) and all your ultrasound reports to your first hospital appointment.
5. Book classes. Paid parenting education classes include a tour of the birthing facilities and the ward. Public patients tour as part of the Birth and Beyond antenatal classes.

What pregnancy care options does Northern Beaches Hospital offer?

• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). A named midwife cares for you through pregnancy, birth and after, including home visits. It is for women with no risk factors.
• Maternity Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS). A named MAPS midwife gives your pregnancy care, working with an affiliated GP.
• GP shared care. An affiliated GP gives most of your pregnancy care, with visits at the hospital.
• Hospital clinics. Midwife-led clinics, and doctor-led clinics run by obstetric staff specialists for pregnancies with higher risks.
• Next Birth After Caesarean clinic. For women who have had a caesarean and are planning a vaginal birth.
• Student Midwife Clinic. Student midwives lead your care with support from the maternity education team.
• Private obstetrician. If you are privately insured, you choose your obstetrician. If you are not insured, the hospital can tailor a private package and talk with you about costs.

NSW Health explains each option on its Pregnancy care options in NSW page.

How does the Northern Beaches Hospital antenatal clinic work?

Your first public appointment is with a midwife at the hospital antenatal clinic, usually at 14 to 16 weeks. If you have GP shared care, your GP sees you for most visits, and you also go to the hospital at about 20 to 21 weeks, 28 to 29 weeks, 36 weeks and 40 weeks. If you reach 41 weeks, you are seen in the Day Assessment Unit. If you need care that Northern Beaches Hospital cannot provide, your care moves to a tertiary hospital.

What is the Northern Beaches Hospital Birthing Unit like?

The Birthing Unit on Level 2 has 10 birthing suites. Each has an ensuite, a bath for pain relief and a fold-out bed for your partner or support person. Three suites have birthing pools, and these are for public patients only. Water births are offered, and the unit has immediate access to operating theatres. Call the Birthing Unit on (02) 9105 5240 day or night if you have questions or think you are in labour.

Does Northern Beaches Hospital have a special care nursery?

Yes. The Special Care Nursery is fully equipped and staffed to care for babies born from 32 weeks of pregnancy. It is next to the maternity ward, so you are close by if your baby needs extra monitoring. Babies room in with their parents on the ward.

What is the Northern Beaches Hospital maternity ward like?

The maternity ward takes up to 20 private and 20 public patients. Private patients have their own room with an ensuite, and their partners can stay overnight. Public patients usually share a room and ensuite with one other patient. A lactation consultant is available during your stay. It is a locked ward, so visitors press the intercom to be let in.

What are the Northern Beaches Hospital maternity visiting hours?

Visiting hours on the maternity ward are 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm. The ward has a rest time from 1pm to 3pm. Partners and support people can come and go as they please.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Public patients: a Midwifery in the Home midwife visits you in the first few days after you leave hospital, and you may have more visits in the first two weeks.
• Private patients: you have a check-up with your obstetrician, usually about six weeks after the birth.
• Community Health Centre: it contacts you after you leave hospital and aims to see you within 1 to 2 weeks of going home.
• Other help: midwives can arrange for you to see services such as social workers or physiotherapists.
• Parenting helplines: Karitane Careline 1300 227 464 and Tresillian Parents Help Line 1300 272 736. For health advice at any hour, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

For sleep, follow the Red Nose safe sleep recommendations from your first night at home.

Other maternity hospitals near the Northern Beaches

• Royal North Shore Hospital Public
• North Shore Private Hospital Private
• Mater Hospital North Sydney Private
• Sydney Adventist Hospital Private
• Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Public

See all New South Wales birthing hospitals.

Northern Beaches Hospital maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against Northern Sydney Local Health District and Northern Beaches Hospital on 21 October 2026. Services and contact details can change, so confirm with the hospital before you go. This page is general information and is not medical advice.