2026-02-25
The Victorian Greens have called for a Safer Care Victoria Inquiry into governance at Epworth Private Hospital following disturbing allegations that women underwent unnecessary endometriosis-related surgeries.
The Victorian Greens say the Allan Government’s referral of a Melbourne surgeon to police does not go far enough, and that the government has a responsibility to examine systemic failures, particularly within the private hospital sector.
The Greens say that the case raises broader questions about accountability in Victoria’s expanding private hospital system, where oversight and transparency requirements are significantly weaker than in the public system.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Sarah Mansfield:
“These allegations are deeply distressing. Every person seeking care deserves confidence that the system will protect them when they are at their most vulnerable.”
“Living with chronic pain and not knowing what’s wrong is frightening enough, and for many women simply feeling heard and taken seriously can already feel like half the battle. To then finally believe you’re getting answers and consent to surgery is a huge step that requires enormous trust.
“Referring the matter to Victoria Police cannot be the end of the government’s responsibility. We need answers about how the system itself may have failed, and whether governance systems at Epworth were fit for purpose. Victorians deserve transparency about whether warning signs were missed.”
“As a former doctor, I know how critical the clinical governance is for keeping patients safe and I also know that there are real gaps in how private hospitals and especially elective surgeries are regulated as Victoria is relying more on private providers than ever before, oversight must keep pace with that.”