Chief executive Chris Fleming announced the review at an SDHB commissioners meeting yesterday, saying he had also ordered a report on the implementation of the SDHB's full maternity review strategy.
Supporters of the Lumsden Maternity Centre, which became a maternal and child hub rather than a primary birthing unit as part of the service review, have long claimed service changes in the northern Southland town would result in women giving birth on the side of the road.
The increasingly bitter dispute has ended up a national political issue, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern agreed on Monday to look at the issue.
Mr Fleming said with the high level of interest in the issue, a review of Sunday's birth was appropriate.
''Given the many perspectives on this that have been expressed publicly, I would be looking to have independent midwifery input into this review.
''However, I do want to understand more about the specifics of the case, the care she received, the decision making, and the overall network of support that was available to the woman, including the role, if any, that the changes to the primary maternity infrastructure may have played in this.''
Mr Fleming said the wider review into the implementation of the strategy, which is eight months into a two-year implementation process, was timely.
''It looks at what went well, what did not go well, and if there are any issues outstanding,'' he said.
Maternal and child hubs were a new concept and there has not been a blueprint to follow.
''We have acknowledged that aspects of the transition to a hub in Lumsden have not gone smoothly, and there may be a range of reasons for this.
''As we progress with the strategy, we need to understand this better so we can learn from this.''
Clutha Southland MP Hamish Walker, whose signature petition which calls for Lumsden Maternity Centre is still being considered by Parliament's health select committee, said it was too late for another review.
''A mother gave birth to a 10-pound baby on the side of the road because this Government has refused to listen to the concerns of the Southland community over the past 12 months: we warned the DHB and Government this would happen.''
