Red Cross volunteers will not staff the cafe at Maitland Private Hospital from next month, ending a 14-year tenure.
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The Red Cross Cafe on the hospital’s ground floor sells snacks, gifts and toiletry items on weekdays, with all profits going to the charity.
Hospital CEO Brett Dennett confirmed the shop would close on November 6.
He said the decision came after renovations were planned to enlarge the hospital’s day surgery waiting area, which led to a review of food and coffee service at the hospital.
Administrators opted for a larger cafe to cater for the expected growth of the hospital.
“The decision was made to tender for a larger service, offering more variety that would better suit the current and future needs of the hospital,” Mr Dennett said.
“This process took place last year and the Red Cross did not lodge a submission.”
With the renovations still months away, Mr Dennett said hospital administrators offered the Red Cross the chance to keep operating the cafe in the short term as long as its products did not compete for business with the incoming firm.
“The Red Cross indicated this would not be a viable option,” he said.
“The decision to move to a larger coffee shop service was the hospital’s, however the Red Cross was consulted and declined to lodge a submission.
“Discussions with the Red Cross at the time indicated the scale of the desired venture was beyond the Red Cross’ normal size of operation.”
Next month will be the first management change of the cafe since the hospital opened.
The Mercury believes the new firm is a private company.
Local Red Cross representatives said they preferred not to comment publically.
Mr Dennett said there would be opportunities for the volunteers to continue working with the hospital in other capacities.
“The Red Cross shop and ladies have been a part of the hospital for a long time and it will be sad to see them go, but unfortunately the growth of the hospital requires services to grow with it,” he said.
Expansion plans at the hospital include a new 43-bed mental health ward above the main car park.
Maitland City Council has confirmed the development complied with guidelines but because of the community significance and cost of the project, the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel must give final approval.
