Planned birthing to recommence in Buller

26 January 2015

Planned birthing to recommence in Buller

A new provider has been contracted by the West Coast District Health Board to run the Buller Hospital’s Kawatiri Birthing Unit, Chief Executive David Meates announced today.

A planned birthing service will recommence in the Westport facility in early March.

A 2013 review of West Coast DHB maternity services, undertaken by clinicians from the Coast, Canterbury and beyond, recommended planned birthing be stopped at the Kawatiri Birthing Unit. Recently, the DHB sought expressions of interest from providers who could address the issues identified in the review in order to best ensure a safe and sustainable service.

West Coast District Health Board Chair Peter Ballantyne says he is delighted that the DHB will once again be able to provide a safe and sustainable midwifery service for Buller women at Kawatiri, a “quality service, closer to home”, from early March.

“Quite rightly the community has been anxious to see this service return. The DHB has worked through previous issues, found the right provider and so I’m able to announce some positive New Year news for the Buller community,” he says.

The Haslett Partnership has been contracted to start preparations from 1 February this year on managing the Kawatiri unit, ensuring adequate staffing, equipment, and urgent care for pregnant women visiting the area. It will also ensure that there are well-planned coordinated processes for when an emergency may arise. Women enrolled with a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) will be able to access Kawatiri to give birth and stay following the birth. Buller women birthing at Grey Base Hospital or in Christchurch will be able to transfer back to the unit post birth.

The Haslett Partnership consists of husband and wife team Correen and Alan Haslett. Correen, an LMC, has significant maternity experience and has run a midwifery business in Canterbury with a team of nine midwives. She has worked more than 1440 clinical hours on the West Coast as a locum for hospital-employed and self-employed midwives in the past year. Alan Haslett has a long history in project management and managing quality and risk at an international level.

The Haslett Partnership has both the right background and a familiarity with Buller, Mr Meates says. They will be working with us to ensure that the service is high quality, safe and sustainable.

Mums-to-be continue to choose their LMC through the Find Your Midwife website (www.findyourmidwife.co.nz).

A celebration will be held in March to mark planned birthing recommencing in the Kawatiri unit.

ENDS

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