Labour starts on new hospital birthing unit

Work begins on Hawke's Bay Hospital maternity unit, Ata Rangi.

Work on a new $2.6million birthing unit will step up a gear this week.

Alexander Construction began ground works last month to prepare the Hawke's Bay Hospital site for building work to begin, Hawke's Bay District Health Board facilities project manager Megan Knowles said.

Work on the new roof over the current maternity unit, Ata Rangi, will begin today. Patients can expect some noise and vibration to be felt in the B Block Tower of Hawke's Bay Hospital for two to three days. Part of the discharge lounge in B1 Ward will also be partitioned off during the next two to three weeks.

The Labour and Birthing Suite entrance at Gate 4 on Canning Rd will be closed today from 7am until Tuesday at 6pm.

All labouring women and acute pregnancy-related presentations will be directed through the Emergency Department. All other pregnant women, families and visitors should access maternity services from the hospital's main entrance.

Visitors to Ata Rangi and level two of the Tower Block, where extra maternity bed space is being provided, are asked to continue using the hospital's main car park off Omahu Rd.

Dedicated car parks for lead maternity carers are being provided from Gate 3, also off Canning Rd.

While Ata Rangi is continuing all services until the opening of the unit next year, several changes have been made to the way the service operates.

Antenatal clinics have been moved to Te Kakano in Omahu Rd. The main entrance to Ata Rangi is closed; except in extraordinary circumstances like this week, women in labour, being induced or who have a pregnancy emergency now enter through the labour and birthing suite (previously "after hours entry"). That is in Canning Rd, entrance 4. Women who have a normal birth will stay in the A2 ward on the second floor of the Hospital Tower Block due to the loss of bed space in Ata Rangi.

All visitors and support people should access maternity services from the hospital's main reception.