3 March 2009
News release
Karitane Offers New Mothers An Alternative To Birth Units
New mothers are turning to trained Karitane Nurses to help them straight after birth as private facilities such as
Birthcare increase their prices.
Kirsten Varley, who runs the Karitane Nurses and Nannies Bureau, said, with mothers being released from hospital so
quickly these days, many preferred to go straight home rather than transferring to another facility.
“In Auckland, new mums have about two hours in which to get from hospital to Birthcare, which has just raised its prices
by between 14% and 71%.
“Families are realising that, for less than the price of a stay at Birthcare, they can have a trained Karitane Nurse
live with them round-the-clock for a day or two, providing one-on-one care and advice.”
Varley said the bureau had also seen an increase in grandmothers providing their daughters with an in-home Karitane.
“At least once a week, we’ll have a grandmother saying she wants to pay for a Karitane for her daughter and newborn
grandchild for a day or a weekend. They say they would love to help out themselves - as their mothers did – but they
can’t because they have to work.”
Varley said families could engage a Karitane for a minimum of four hours although many liked to have them around for the
baby’s first 24 hours.
“To stay in a private room at Birthcare for three days now costs more than $1,100 yet, for just $25 an hour or $450 for
24 hours, you can have dedicated, one-on-one care from a Karitane Nurse for as long as you like.”
Varley said the bureau has more than 40 trained Karitane Nurses available in Auckland, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and
Christchurch.
For more information, visit www.karitanebureau.co.nz
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