Rotorua MP Todd McClay (from left), mum-to-be Tegan Hignett, Jenny Martelli, service manager Woman, Child and Family, Corli Roodt, clinical midwife director and Ngāti Whakaue kaumātua Monty Morrison.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay (from left), mum-to-be Tegan Hignett, Jenny Martelli, service manager Woman, Child and Family, Corli Roodt, clinical midwife director and Ngāti Whakaue kaumātua Monty Morrison.
Mothers and newborn babies in the Lakes District will now enjoy completely refurbished facilities with the opening of the upgraded birthing unit at Rotorua Hospital.
Te Whatu Ora Lakes group director operations Alan Wilson said in a media statement the investment brought the “current birthing facilities in line with relevant standards”.
“It improves the safety and experience of patients and creates spaces and facilities that are fit for purpose ,” Wilson said.
“The upgraded facility is not just an improvement for those needing healthcare, but those providing it as well; with improvements to staff areas and facility design to enable more effective care.
“We are very excited to have such an attractive space with major clinical improvements for our birthing mothers, babies and their whānau.
“The unit is also now a much-improved area for staff to work in and we are very proud to open this unit and make it available for our whānau and staff.”
The birthing unit’s eight suites now have new features to support birthing mothers, including new birthing pools in four rooms, blanket warmers, bluetooth speakers and birth support ropes.
An aerial shot of Rotorua Hospital. Photo / Ben Fraser
The rooms have been upgraded with double-glazed windows, fresh paint, interior design with a cultural theme, new flooring, bathroom fittings, new antimicrobial curtains, and a redesigned beverage bay to improve the experience of mothers and whānau while birthing.
The unit now has a negative pressure room which will ensure the safe care of mothers and their babies who need to be in isolation.
A completely redesigned staff station, stores, dispensary and reception area will also improve facilities for staff. The birthing unit staff office has doubled in size and better storage areas will also improve clinical, communication and privacy requirements.
Wilson acknowledged the families who had birthed in the temporary birthing unit while the redevelopment was under way.
“I particularly want to thank all the birthing unit staff, midwives, and clinicians for working together for the benefit of mothers and their babies in the temporary unit.”
Lakes clinical midwife director Corli Roodt said staff had greatly appreciated whānau being understanding of the restrictions on the temporary unit.
“We look forward to providing the birthing service in the upgraded unit and being able to have women supported by a loved one during their entire stay,” Roodt said.
The upgrade was part of a $6 million redevelopment to improve Rotorua Hospital’s Woman, Child and Family facilities at Rotorua Hospital.
The Children’s Unit, Perinatal Unit and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) are all set for improvements, with some of the buildings almost 60 years old and some experiencing water tightness issues.
“These infrastructure projects are essential to ongoing improvement of patient safety and experience and to create spaces and facilities that are suited to their purpose,” Wilson said.
“For whānau and their pēpē, the improvements are much needed and will create a safer space for antenatal, labour, birth and postnatal care.”
