All midwives employed by Lakes District Hospital will transfer when a new model of care is introduced to the maternity unit in June, the Southern District Health Board (DHB) confirms.
The changes meant all Wakatipu women who wished to give birth at the hospital, or transfer there after giving birth at another maternity unit, will be guaranteed access to birthing support and post-birth inpatient care by experienced, Wakatipu-residing hospital-employed midwives, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The midwives will work on a 12-hour shift rotation to provide cover. A ''midwifery unit co-ordinator'' would be appointed to run the unit, the DHB said.
The changes from June will also mean hospital-employed midwives will not provide Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) midwifery care. Wakatipu women were advised to select a self-employed LMC midwife to work with them during their pregnancy.
The DHB confirmed there were enough LMC midwives working in the area to absorb the transfer of care.
There were 66 births in the hospital in Frankton in 2011-12. This was up from 47 births in 2010-11, 52 births in 2009-10 and 40 births in 2008-09.
Director of midwifery Jenny Humphries said the DHB was ''thrilled'' to confirm the arrangement.
''This is great news for the community who we know have a very high regard for the excellent service that these midwives have continued to provide over many years.''
The DHB will monitor the effectiveness of the new model of care for staff and patients and will continue to survey all patients regularly and respond to issues which arise, Ms Humphries said.
