West Coast mothers facing high risk births will have to trek to Christchurch to have their babies, as the West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) again has a lack of full-time locum specialist obstetric staff.
Repeating a problem that occurred last month, those mothers with high risk pregnancies will be asked to move to Christchurch two weeks before their due date.
Board community liaison officer Bryan Jamieson said the same arrangements would apply as they did in July. The board would subsidise accommodation and travel expenses.
The board had specialist cover during weekends only next month, which would enable gynaecology clinics to continue and give emergency cover, he said.
Midwives would continue to provide initial assessments for any women identified as higher risk before they transferred to Christchurch Women's Hospital.
Mr Jamieson said the board was continuing to try to recruit for full-time specialist staff and long-term locums.
"However this will not resolve the immediate issue due to the delay before any appointed staff are able to commence at the West Coast DHB."
The crisis eased this month when Grey Hospital offered its usual range of obstetric and gynaecological services.
Former chief executive Kevin Hague told a recent board meeting the crisis showed the Coast's current health services were unsustainable.
He said it reflected the board's difficulty maintaining specialist services.
