NSW government reaches $190m in-principle agreement over Northern Beaches Hospital

The parents of a child who died after treatment at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Hospital say it is their son’s love that “guided the government” in returning the controversy-ridden hospital back to public hands.

The NSW government is one step closer on Tuesday to bringing the Northern Beaches Hospital back into public hands after striking an $190m in-principle agreement with operator Healthscope and receivers.

The deal marks the “final phase” in the government’s push to return the hospital to public ownership following a string of high-profile controversies, including the death of two-year-old Joe Mass last year.

Cradling Joe’s shoes alongside husband Danny, mum Elouise Massa said she knew her son’s case was not isolated and there had been “systemic failures” at Northern Beaches Hospital.