Dargaville maternity unit reopening

Dargaville Hospital's maternity unit, closed for nearly six months, is expected to reopen as a full maternity service before the end of the year.

This follows successful negotiations between the Northland District Health Board and two Auckland midwives, who will move to Dargaville with their families.

One is scheduled to start work next month and the other in early December.

They will join a Northland Health midwife already working in Dargaville to bring the maternity unit up to the required number of staff needed to run a 24-hour, seven-day roster.