TDHB Board votes to close Stratford Maternity Unit.

A unanimous vote at the Taranaki District Health Board (TDHB) meeting this afternoon means Stratford's maternity unit will now permanently close.

TDHB board members agreed with all eight recommendations contained in an options appraisal report presented at the meeting.

Speaking after the decision was made this afternoon, Stratford mayor Neil Volzke says the decision leaves him feeling sorry for the mothers and fathers impacted.

"The decision went in line with the recommendation however, so it was to be expected," he says.

"On a positive note, we have managed to salvage something, the board has approved the recommendation to explore the potential for the development of a maternal and child health hub in Stratford. This would mean we had the option of good quality post-natal care in the town even if we don't have a maternity unit."

Jess Brocas, a Stratford mother who petitioned to keep the unit open, believes the decision comes down to money, "once again, the rural community is being disadvantaged and money redirected to our urban neighbours".

Jess was one of several Stratford parents who attended the meeting today, "to hear for ourselves the fate of the unit," and she says they will be holding the board to it's promises. "The other recommendations they passed, to investigate the post-natal care in town etcetera, we want to see movement on these things, and soon, as they themselves gave a time-frame of a couple of months. We will not stop speaking up for the need for quality care in Stratford."

Pointing out the recommendation in the report for the promotion of low risk births to go to Hawera Hospital Primary Maternity Unit for Stratford and South Taranaki women, she says this will see families having to travel further at an already stressful time.

"Then, if a birth doesn't go according to plan and a transfer to Base Hospital is needed, patients are further away than if they had been at a maternity unit in Stratford, it doesn't make sense to take the most central town in the region out of the equation, surely Stratford is ideally placed, being between Hawera and New Plymouth, for a birthing unit."

Travelling to Hawera or Base rather than Stratford disadvantages not just rural mothers, but fathers too says Jess.

"We are asking fathers to travel further to visit their new baby, while also juggling demands on their time such as milking, school pick ups for their other children and getting those other children home for dinner and bed. Families will find themselves divided by distance at a time when they should be spending time together."