A private hospital in Melbourne’s western suburbs closes its doors after one year of operation, leaving patients without care and staff without a job. What’s the scam?
The scam is that private hospitals are not the way to run a proper health care system, especially when the absence of proper regulation means there is nothing either the State or Federal Government can do to protect the interests of patients and staff.
According to the ABC, staff was given less than 12 hours’ notice and just a few days to move patients to other hospitals. In a statement from the appointed administrator, Wexted Advisors, it was made clear that there was no more funding available and that
Limited staff have been retained to assist with patient care and oversee an orderly wind-down of hospital operations over the next few days.
Sunshine Private Hospital opened on 23 May 2023, and was operated by Unitas Healthcare, “a leading healthcare provider with a focus on quality patient care.” Sunshine Private is – was – their only operating business.
Unitas’s funding came from Belay Capital, an Australian “early growth stage Private Equity Manager.” based in Double Bay. Their other investments include a high-tech company governance platform, Ansarada (ASX:AND) and a car washing service. Belay Capital was founded by Andrew Kloster. Former ANZ Global Head of Balance Sheet Trading, Etienne Alexiou, is also a director, and both are directors of Unitas Healthcare, now in receivership.
MWM understands that Australian Unity is the lessor of the hospital’s premises and the main creditor.
MWM has asked for comments from Unitas.
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Kim Wingerei is a businessman turned writer and commentator. He is passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, Kim has lived in Australia for 30 years. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.