Birthing unit at St George's Hospital to stay open for another year

A popular Christchurch primary birthing unit will remain open for another year after considering a closure.

The maternity ward at St George's Hospital is currently the only primary birthing unit in Christchurch, with the nearest alternative a half-hour drive away.

A closure was considered due to staffing shortages, but staff, midwives, and young mothers rallied to keep the ward open in April.

A petition with 30,000 signatures opposing the potential closure was handed to the hospital's chief executive Blair Roxborough, and he extended the decision deadline as a result.

Today, he announced the hospital would remain open for the remainder of its contract with Canterbury District Health Board, ending June next year.

"We continue to discuss the future of our maternity services contract - beyond June 2023 - with the Canterbury DHB," he said.

A new DHB birthing unit opened yesterday in Selwyn, and a central city unit was also set to open in early 2023.

But College of Midwives advisor Jacqui Anderson said those units shouldn ot replace existing services, rather add to them as demand increased.

The potential closure was a reflection of women's health being undervalued, she said.

"It's really disheartening that we continue to have to fight, really, for a recognition that women and baby's health and wellbeing actually reflects the health and wellbeing of the community.

"It's incredibly disappointing that our midwifery-led maternity service is not being properly resourced and supported which affects our ability to deliver the world-leading model of care we have in place."

Sheena Ross of Rata Midwives, which organised the 'Save St George's' petition, agreed.

"We should be making more primary birthing services available to women, not reducing them."

The uncertainty caused by the potential closure had been stressful for mothers and midwives, and this would continue with the unknown future of the unit beyond June next year, she said.

"It hasn't blown over, it still matters to all of us."

Phoebe Leyton was due to have her first child at St George's in September, and she was anxious not knowing whether it would happen there.

"That was quite concerning for us, just not [being] sure what our plan b would be.

"The news today is fantastic, we feel really relieved at the significant decision, not only for us but for all women, folk and whānau who were planning to birth at St George's Maternity Hospital."

Roxborough said while the ward would remain open for the next year, staffing issues remained.

"I want to be very clear, that unless this staffing shortage is resolved in order to maintain safe maternity services, we will still have to further scale back birthing at St George's," he said.

"There remains a national shortage of midwives and we appreciate the input from our own maternity staff and Midwives Union MERAS on staffing suggestions."

MERAS said it was working closely with St George's, and the renewed certainty of continued operation would attract midwives to fill vacancies.