However, Wanaka’s gain could be Alexandra’s loss, after the Southern District Health Board yesterday opted to locate primary birthing facilities at Wanaka and Dunstan, leaving a question mark over the future of the Charlotte Jean maternity unit.
Wanaka woman Kristi James, who made headlines in June last year when she gave birth in her midwife’s office, was ecstatic Wanaka would have a primary facility.
"That is amazing, awesome news ... that sounds like a whole lot of hard work has paid off, to a certain degree."
Ms James and other Wanaka women formed the lobby group Save Our Wanaka Midwives, which has led a vocal campaign to improve birthing facilities in the town.
"Doing the groundwork to actually get this over the line is going to be the interesting part ... but I am over the moon and delighted for the women and the community who have stuck with it on this cause.
"It is so wonderful that having demanded to be a part of this process that we have been heard."
The SDHB’s review of maternity services has been long-winded and at times acrimonious, with many communities vocal about the possible loss of their birthing facilities, or their need for expanded services.
Of four options in front of it, the SDHB chose Option 4, to establish one primary birthing unit at Dunstan Hospital and a second unit in Wanaka, if an agreement to staff it could be reached.
Wanaka midwife Deborah Harvey was cautiously optimistic, and said while the SDHB had chosen an option which would make many of her clients happy, the board still had to talk to lead maternity carer (LMC) midwives about how the facilities would be staffed.
"There is an onus on LMC midwives to staff the unit and that hasn’t been discussed with LMC midwives yet, so there is still a bit of confusion about what this means for midwives ... there is still a big piece of option 4 that needs to be nutted out."
While Ms Harvey was excited about the prospect of new facilities, she was nervous the staffing caveat could derail the plan.
SDHB primary and population health general manager Mary Cleary Lyons told the board that while the future of maternity services in the Central Otago and Wanaka region had been chosen as option 4, the board might need to fall back to a one-centre option if agreement could not be reached about staffing.
"We look forward to continued progress in confirming that a two-model solution, including a long-awaited birthing unit in Wanaka, can be brought to reality.
“We are especially appreciative of the LMC midwives who have been open to exploring alternative models in the interests of the women they serve, and the willingness to think creatively about approaches that could work.”
Ms Cleary Lyons said the decision not to include Charlotte Jean in its services schedule mix was hard, but the facility was difficult for emergency services — especially rescue helicopters — to reach, and it was felt new, purpose-built facilities were the best "future-proof" option.
“We appreciate the enormous contribution of the team at Charlotte Jean maternity over many years."
"We sincerely thank their team for their professionalism as we have worked through this consultation process with the community."
Charlotte Jean management was unable to be contacted for comment yesterday.
