Work on downgrading the status of Lumsden Maternity Centre continues on Thursday, with the meeting of people who may find themselves acting as impromptu midwives.
Papers to be presented to the SDHB commissioners meeting on Wednesday said an ''emergency maternity response pathway development hui'' was being held in Lumsden the next day.
Those at the meeting will discuss what procedures should be followed if a pregnant woman needs help and first responders are the closest assistance.
''Free emergency maternity response education has been offered to first responders in rural areas,'' the paper said.
It also said service specifications for Lumsden's new hub and its equipment requirements had been drafted.
NSHC chairwoman Carrie Williams said plans were only well advanced because LMC already had the facilities and much of the equipment.
''Our mandate as a trust is to try to get the people in our community the best health services possible.
''In the absence of a primary birthing unit, it is certainly incumbent on us to do the best we can.''
The report noted the SDHB was still looking for a site to house its maternal and child hub in Wanaka, as there was no suitable space in the town's medical centre.
Kristi James from Save Our Wanaka Midwives said the lobby group was pleased the SDHB was looking at options for a hub, but still believed Wanaka needed a primary birthing unit.
In the meantime, local women were missing out on sorely needed services.
''I'm pregnant right now, I'm halfway there, and I'm terrified.
''I don't know what's going to happen and whether I will be in the situation of needing to drive three and a-half hours to Dunedin if I go into labour.''
Ms James said women still had little idea what a hub might look like and what services it might offer.
Save Our Wanaka Midwives had asked members for their suggestions on hub services, and while some ideas were unlikely, several reasonable proposals had been made, she said.
''One thing which was suggested was a shared space which could include other services which are needed here - that could be an ideal situation as we would be more than happy to share.''
The SDHB report said a relief midwife service was now in place in Wanaka to support remote midwives so they could plan time off.
