ROYAL Women's Hospital has apologised for taking children from mothers, after a report revealed its role in the policy.
Of the 5000 babies born to single women at the hospital from 1945 to 1975, around a quarter were adopted out, a study by Australian Catholic University's Shurlee Swain found.
Hospital chief executive Dale Fisher said she hoped the revelations, commissioned by the hospital, would be accepted as evidence of its regret over the devastation caused to mothers and adoptees.
"On behalf of the staff, past and present, of the hospital, I apologise to every woman who felt she had no choice but to relinquish her baby for adoption while in our care," Ms Fisher said.
"I understand many relinquishing mothers experienced, and continue to experience, feelings of grief, pain, anger, helplessness and loss, and for this I apologise, unreservedly."
Fiona Judd, the hospital's Centre for Women's Mental Health director, said that at its peak about a quarter of single mothers had babies taken from them.
Kate O'Dwyer, spokeswoman for the Association of Relinquishing Mothers, Victoria, said many members lost children through the hospital.
Ms O'Dwyer called on the hospital to give an unconditional, direct apology to the group.
The findings were submitted to a Senate inquiry into forced adoptions in Australia.
The Senate committee will present its findings on February 29.
