Expectant mums face an anxious wait to learn the future of Cairns' only private maternity unit as obstetric services dwindle across Queensland's far north.
Cairns Private Hospital, owned by Ramsay Health Care, has confirmed its maternity unit is under review.
However, no decision has yet been made to close it.
Maternity services in Cooktown and Weipa in Cape York also remain in limbo, with the Cairns Hospital delivering the majority of babies across the vast region, including the Torres Strait.
Narelle Ashworth, from the Birds of Paradise Women's Health Clinic in Cairns, said expectant women were concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the private hospital's birthing unit.
"We have many women coming in voicing their concerns, they're hearing rumours in the community the unit may not be able to facilitate private births in the community for much longer," Ms Ashworth said.
"We are hoping to get a solid commitment that private maternity services will continue for the women who are currently pregnant, those who are planning future pregnancies and for the Cairns community as a whole.
"Any closure would be a huge loss."
Recruitment 'incredibly difficult'
The Cairns Private Hospital delivers more than 300 babies each year and is the only private birthing facility north of Townsville, hundreds of kilometres away.
In a statement, the Cairns Private Hospital CEO Ben Toth said efforts were being made to keep the birthing unit running, including the recruitment of obstetricians and paediatricians.
"In the last year, sadly we've seen the passing of one of our obstetricians and the announcement of the upcoming retirement of our paediatrician," Mr Toth said.
"In order to operate the maternity service safely, we need the right specialists to support it.
"We have been working tirelessly on the recruitment of obstetricians and paediatricians to Cairns, however unfortunately, it has been incredibly difficult to recruit."
Cairns mother of two Gabrielle Layzell gave birth to both of her children at the Cairns Private Hospital, including daughter Poppy in October.
"We had a great experience there and it would be a shame if the facility did close down because it would put a lot of pressure on the Cairns Hospital," Ms Layzell said.
"It is good to have the option of a private hospital and it would be terrible to lose it."
Hospitals work together
In a statement, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service said it continued to operate a comprehensive and safe maternity and birthing service across the far north.
Cairns Hospital delivers more than 2,000 babies a year.
"Cairns Hospital does not have a maternity crisis. It is a well-resourced service that provides exemplary and safe care," the statement said.
"While obstetrics and gynaecological recruitment is a challenge in many regions, we have had no issues recruiting to our consultant positions, with the Cairns region viewed by medical staff as an attractive place to live and work.
"If required, we will methodically and safely transition maternity services for women who were planning to birth at the private hospital to ensure they receive the best and safest care possible."
Mr Toth said the private hospital was working closely with its public counterpart on options for continuing maternity services.
"Cairns Private Hospital maternity patients should continue to attend appointments as normal," he said.
Maternity services in Cooktown and Weipa in Cape York remain closed.
Services in Cooktown shut in February 2022 due to staffing issues while the maternity unit at Weipa was unable to open in January for the same reason.
Maternity services at the Mossman Hospital, about an hour's drive north of Cairns, closed several years ago.
