A helicopter and crew were stationed at Wairau Hospital in Blenheim recently to transfer pregnant mums elsewhere as there were no obstetricians.
In an Official Information Act request released to the Senior Doctors Union, Health New Zealand confirmed the cost of the helicopter was $61,331.
It comes after senior doctors in the hospital's emergency department spoke out about the chronic understaffing which they said was putting patients lives at risk.
Resignations, leave cause 'gaps' in service
Wairau Hospital usually has four senior doctors in the obstetrics and gynaecology department, but one resigned earlier this year.
Health New Zealand's group director of operations for Nelson Marlborough Phil Wheble said it was always challenging to staff a full department that has to be available 24/7.
"Unfortunately between the various leaves that we had and the resignation that caused us some gaps," he said.
From the week of August 31 there were times a senior doctor was on call and available in an emergency, but other times there was no doctor available.
A contingency plan had a helicopter and crew stationed at Wairau Hospital for much of that week.
Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Derek Sherwood said two patients were transferred by helicopter to Nelson while two more were transported by road. No patients were transferred during labour.
"Wairau Maternity Service remained open throughout this period and continued to provide midwifery-led care and obstetrics and gynaecology specialist care remotely from Nelson"
'How is that possible that there's no obstetricians?'
1News spoke to a Marlborough mum who went into labour during this time. She didn't want to be named but said it made the lead up to her birth very stressful.
She was due the first week of September and was told if she went into labour she would be transferred to Nelson because of potential complications.
"I was stunned. I couldn't wrap my head around like how is that possible that there's no obstetricians?".
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When she got to Nelson her labour stalled but doctors wanted her close to the hospital so she had to remain there until an obstetrician was available again in Blenheim.
"My husband was having to drive backwards and forwards every day to take me to appointments to the hospital".
"Spending like those last moments when you're pregnant in a motel room in a city where you don't have any close friends nearby wasn't wasn't the nicest thing".
She eventually gave birth at Wairau Hospital and said the staff were excellent, but she doesn't think anyone else should have to go through the same thing.
Better communication promised
The first senior emergency department doctor Nikki Rolton heard of the staffing gap was when she went to work that Monday morning.
An email was sent out late the Friday night prior but some staff not working over the weekend didn't see it.
"It's scary for me I'm not an obstetrician and things can go wrong very very quickly and where's the first place that they will come? They will come to the emergency department and... I'm not able to deal with that," Rolton said.
Some emergency department doctors 1News spoke to were concerned the contingency planning wasn't better communicated.
Dr Kay Hall said having a helicopter on standby didn't necessarily solve the issue. "We're like 'well that's great but you know helicopters can't fly if it's too windy or if it's foggy?'"
Wheble said he acknowledged the plan could have been communicated better but hoped there would not be a gap like this again.
A fourth doctor has been hired for the department and was due to start in January.
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