Maternity services in South Taranaki

Women in South Taranaki will continue to receive the same high quality maternity service at Hawera Hospital.

Taranaki DHB Clinical Services Manager Leigh Cleland said the service will not be reduced for our women and their families. “Our challenge is to continue to provide a safe and high quality service to the woman, babies and families of South Taranaki in a different way that will ensure there is a sustainable service for the future,” she said.

After much consultation with staff  two groups of maternity staff have been working together to look at how maternity services can continue to be offered in Hawera hospital now and into the future. One group has the focus of growing the maternity unit – looking at why some mothers chose to have their babies at Taranaki Base and marketing the service to mothers.

The second group has been charged with looking at what an on call roster might look like and how it might work.

A new roster is being developed from early June that will have Midwives on shifts between 7am and 2300hrs,  then Midwives will be an on-call roster between 2300 and 0700. 

Midwives will be expected to be within 20 minutes of the hospital when on call and will carry a cell phone that has an 0800 number attached to it.

Questions and Answers

Who calls the on call midwife:  The midwife can be called by any staff member.  Our posters and marketing are promoting women calling the 0800 number to ensure they have an LMC early in their pregnancy and to call their LMC in the first instance for any queries relating to their pregnancy.

What things specifically will midwives be called in for:  It is expected that the reason for calling the midwife on call in for duty will be an emergency or potential urgent case only.

How will transfers be managed:  In the same way they are managed now with their LMC transferring them or the on call midwife transferring.  Back up cover will need to be arranged by the LMC.

Do we have enough midwives:  Yes we do have enough to cover the shifts required, there are additional shifts that can be covered by the core HMU non midwife staff when required or with a casual midwife.

Does an on call roster comply with section 88 and midwifery service specifications:  Yes it does

Will redundancy be offered:  There is not a need for any staff to be surplus to requirement in Hawera hospital within this staffing model, I am motivated to keep the vast skills and experience of the HMU team within the service.

How will LMC’s grow their caseloads:  The marketing/grow group have been working on this. 

When does on call start being paid from:  From the time that you are called in. 

Is the base maternity unit able to accept care for transfers from Hawera.  Yes they are, they are the secondary care unit and as such should accept the care of patients when they are being transferred from Base. 

For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Thursday, May 16, 2013