Our View: Baby unit a public need

The transition from sleepy seaside town to metropolitan has been difficult for Tauranga and the city regularly struggles to keep up with growth.

Whether it is securing Rugby World Cup games or building a decent inner city hotel, the offerings do not meet what is expected of a city with a population of more than 100,000.

The harbour bridge was at capacity only 15 years after it was built.

Councillors, ratepayers and retailers have been squabbling for nearly a decade over the use of prime waterfront land - an issue that does not even need debating in other large cities.

And only three years after it was built, Tauranga's maternity unit is full to overflowing on several occasions.

One obstetrician is doubtful it will meet the city's needs in five years. Dr Matthias Seidel supports a call for a primary birthing care unit.

The new maternity ward opened in June 2008 as part of a $139 million refurbishment project at Tauranga Hospital. It boasts 21 post-natal beds, two ante-natal beds and seven birthing rooms.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board midwifery leader Marg Norris confirmed to the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend that there had been at least three occasions over the past 18 months when new mothers had to be moved into the nearby gynaecology ward due to a lack of space.

However, she says nobody would have predicted the baby boom the city is experiencing.

The birth rate in Tauranga rose from 1327 births in 2000 to 1635 births in 2007 - and last year there were 2163 births.

But it is not news that Tauranga is a fast growing city - the population has been booming for more than two decades and that growth is not expected to stop any time soon.

Surely the Bay of Plenty District Health Board was aware of this when the new ward was designed.

And demand in the community is there - a Facebook page calling for a birthcare unit set up only a week ago has more than 500 supporters.

The idea is also supported by local midwives, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges and Bay of Plenty MP and Minister of Health Tony Ryall.

Birthcare says it has approached the health board about the idea on two occasions but was told it could not meet full funding needs. But Mr Bridges says the board is supportive of the idea.

Perhaps it is time both organisations were proactive about the issue and worked together to make it happen.

A birth care unit run separately from the maternity ward would not only ease pressure at the hospital it would also provide new mums with quality post-natal care.

That is not to say the staff at the maternity ward do not do a great job - that was never in doubt. But with the ward close to capacity resources can be stretched and mothers can feel pressured to leave earlier than they are comfortable with.

A birthing unit would provide mothers with the extra support from midwives and lactation consultants that they need and deserve without feeling rushed to return home.

Have your say -  email the editor on: editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz