KEY POINTS:
A "clinical incident" has forced the Northland District Health Board to stop mothers giving birth at Dargaville Hospital's maternity unit.
Kaipara women in labour now have to take a 56km journey from Dargaville to Whangarei Hospital's maternity unit to have their babies.
The health board's chief medical adviser Gloria Johnson says the Dargaville maternity unit has not closed, but it is not taking women in to give birth.
"Birthing has been transferred to Whangarei Hospital while investigations occur following a clinical incident involving a Dargaville patient," she said.
She would not say what the incident was.
All ante- and post-natal services would continue at Dargaville, Dr Johnson said.
The unit was closed for births more than a week ago. Dr Johnson said the decision was not related to a staffing shortage.
It was a temporary "cautionary measure" and the board intended re-establishing full services as soon as possible.
More than 80 women gave birth at the Dargaville unit in the year to last July.
"Dargaville staff are well versed in transfer procedures and there are no changes in the current staffing in the unit," Dr Johnson said.
A week after the changes had been brought in, a local health advocacy group the Kaipara Community Health Trust, did not know were being sent to Whangarei to have their babies until contacted by the Northern Advocate.
"We support any moves that ensure safe services for the women of the Kaipara and we hope this will be resolved soon, with full birth services being resumed at Dargaville," trust chief executive Debbie Evans said. Kaipara mayor Neil Tiller was also surprised to hear of the situation at Dargaville Hospital.
Rumours had been rife before Christmas that changes may be introduced at the Dargaville unit, Mr Tiller said.
At that time he, the community trust, health board managers and maternity service providers, including Dargaville doctors, had agreed on a system where doctors offered ante-natal care while midwives attended the births.
Mr Tiller said he was assured at the time the board would advise him if any changes were to be made.
Dr Johnson said the situation was regrettable, but necessary until the current investigation was over.
"At all times patient safety is paramount," she said.
The board was exploring options to ensure a long term, sustainable maternity service for Dargaville, she said.
A Whangarei Hospital official said the extra patient load would not put pressure on the hospital's maternity unit.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
