There are lots of hospitals owned by religious groups and Catholic hospitals and aged care facilities would be the most prevalent (most Mater hospitals will be Catholic - ever looked at the logos? Also 'St' hospitals, Mercy hospitals, google Catholic hospitals and check out the list!). The church beliefs often dictates services, although I'll be honest and say I didn't consider it for permanent contraception. The hospital is usually an extension of a health service that the church/mission offered in the area many, many years ago and has developed. It used to be that most private hospitals are church-based. Can't really be sure now, because it is more corporatised, but I wouldn't be surprised if they still are.

Our local private hospital (SAN) is Seventh Day Adventist owned. The SAN used to only serve vegetarian food (they now serve some food with meat, but it's a mostly vegetarian menu - yummy too!).

Mel - can your DH go as a private patient or use his own urologist at the public hospital?