Midwife shortage may be temporary

Saturday's shock closure of the four-month-old Stratford Maternity Unit operated by Maternity Services Taranaki Limited (MSTL) has left expectant mothers facing a longer trip while in labour.

MSTL director Sharon Robinson says the closure is due to a shortage of qualified midwives in the Taranaki region. She stresses it is temporary, "and we are working with the District Health Board to find ways to keep it open".

In the meantime, women can access maternity units at Hawera and Base hospitals, "or they may choose to have a home birth".

Sharon, who is feeling "a little depleted right now", says the maternity unit had been used well since opening in July.

"It is definitely not a case of it not being used, it is about not having enough staff. We have a midwifery programme in New Plymouth now, so we are trying to get some home-grown midwives to work in the region."

Mayor Neil Volzke says recruitment and retention of midwives in the region is an "acute problem that is surely fixable", adding that Taranaki District Health Board should be the key organisation in finding a solution.

Neil describes the closure as being a "huge blow to the community" and he has "real concerns on what the future of maternity services for this district may look like".

He is seeking assurance from the DHB that Stratford will be part of any discussions on maternity services in the district.

A DHB spokesperson confirms that MTSL advised that due to "an unexpected acute shortage in staff levels" they would be unable to deliver services at the Stratford Maternity Unit as of November 15 at 7am. The spokesperson said the DHB is now working through the options for Stratford women.

Neil says that while the DHB is dealing with the problem of having its contracted service provider unable to offer the service, "this is only the short-term, immediate problem."

The wider issue is how this essential local service can be re-opened in a way that is sustainable and reassuring for our expectant mothers.

Mayor Neil Volzke

One such expectant mother is Gina Vecchia, whose baby is due in January.

She heard about the closure through other people, saying she thinks only women within a month of their due date were contacted directly by their midwives. Gina says it is "a nuisance"being faced with having to travel further to have her baby, but is hopeful the closure won't be permanent and that she might yet be able to have her baby in the town in which she lives.