Secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services will once again be offered at Whakatāne Hospital, after being scrapped at the beginning of last year.
At the start of 2025, Whakatāne Hospital downgraded its services after the last of its obstetricians left, leaving expectant mothers with high-risk births across the region in the hands of clinicians in Tauranga.
The hospital offered primary birthing services for low-risk births only.
Today, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora announced the services would be brought back, and be available 24/7, from 8am on April 13.
Cath Cronin, chief executive for Health NZ's Te Manawa Taki region, which comprises Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Taranaki, Lakes and Tairāwhiti Districts, said this would offer expectant mums "less travel, more continuity, and the reassurance of knowing their local hospital is there".
The situation is causing anxiety for some expectant mothers who face longer journeys if there are complications during birth. (Source: 1News)
"We know this hasn’t been easy, particularly for mothers who had to travel long distances from home at such an important time in their lives," she said.
There were already some close calls for some women 1News spoke to last year, including a woman who was flown 30 minutes from Ōpōtiki to Tauranga when the umbilical cord became stuck around her son’s neck when she was contracting.
New Zealand College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy said at the time that the Tauranga region's midwives felt added pressure due to already low staffing numbers.
Cronin said today Whakatāne Hospital has three permanent senior medical officers in place, with a fourth joining soon.
A senior medical officer roster has been confirmed and would be supported by the wider Bay of Plenty team and experienced locums, she added.
“The new senior doctors will work alongside the general maternity and specialised Whakatāne clinical hospital and community teams to ensure care is well coordinated and locally supported.
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