It is almost a year since the Southern District Health Board (now Te Whatu Ora Southern) purchased an eight-bedroom lodge in Albert Town to be used as the Upper Clutha’s primary birthing unit, but the lodge remains closed and local women must still travel to Alexandra - an hour’s drive away - to give birth.

Our enquiries to Te Whatu Ora this month have revealed that building consents have yet to be submitted for the alterations required, and the birthing unit is not likely to be open for local women until the end of this year at the earliest. 

Why is it taking so long?

In June last year, when the news became public about the lodge’s purchase, the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) had already granted consent for the Southern District Health Board (SDHB) to establish a four-bed primary birthing unit at the site. 

In its application to QLDC the SDHB said the residence would remain “largely untouched”.

In July last year the SDHB said the lodge needed “minor alterations” and was due to be converted into a birthing unit by early 2023. 

This eight-bedroom lodge destined to be a birthing unit has sat more or less empty for the past year. PHOTO: Wānaka App

At least five key people have been working on the project for the past year.

By January 2023, however, there was no sign of any activity at the Monteith Road address, and when the Wānaka App enquired, Te Whatu Ora director of midwifery for Southern Karen Ferraccioli told us: “We are still on track to have the Wānaka facility open in the first half of 2023”.

So what has caused the delays? 

SDHB amalgamates with Te Whatu Ora

The move from SDHB to Te Whatu Ora Southern appears to be the cause of much of the delay in progress on the birthing unit, as the project team had to adapt to new guidelines and a new regulatory environment.

On July 1, 2022, New Zealand moved to a new national health system. The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act established four new entities: Te Whatu Ora (formerly DHBs) which coordinate healthcare across the country; Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority; a new Public Health Agency; and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.

“There are now national standards required for facility builds and upgrades,” Karen said.

“This meant that some further work from the project team was required to ensure these standards are incorporated.”

Work already undertaken

Karen told us “a number of key pieces of work” have been undertaken to prepare for construction at the Monteith Road site.

“From August to October 2022, initial plans were developed, which included determining the use of each room, infection control measures, and planning for digital, electrical, mechanical, heli-landing, emergency power supply, and operational requirements,” she said.

From November 2022 to January 2023 a tender process was conducted to select a construction partner, one which Te Whatu Ora says has “expertise in materials supply and building codes and standards”. 

The company was then brought on board to “guide finalisation of floorplans”.

A “detailed refit floorplan” was developed between February and May 2023, Karen said, including mechanical requirements, fire engineering, infection prevention and control measures, placement of hand basins, electrical rewiring, identification of nurse call and security systems, operational planning, and ordering of necessary equipment including digital gear.

What still needs to be done?

Karen said she anticipated the building consent for the Wānaka birthing unit will be lodged in June 2023. 

“Once building consent is issued, construction will begin. 

“We will make some minor alterations to the building’s layout; the major work lies in refitting the building's internal systems such as rewiring, plumbing, fire, mechanical/ventilation, and digital, along with the fit out of the interior spaces.”

When will the birthing unit open?

Karen said she could not estimate an opening date for the unit “at this stage”.

“A specific opening date will be planned once a starting day for construction on the refit is locked in, which is expected to be in mid 2023,” she said.

A long labour

Two years ago, in June 2021, the SDHB agreed to establish a primary birthing unit (which is equipped for supporting healthy women with no medical complications through labour, birth, and in-patient postnatal care) in Wānaka.

The decision followed a long process and many years of advocacy from local groups, including local Lead Maternity Care (LMC) midwives and the Save Our Wānaka Midwives, in part because of the significant distance to the nearest primary birthing unit and hospital.

There are 180 pregnancies in the Wānaka region each year on average, and that number is growing.

This area has a 30-50 percent primary birth rate, meaning that percentage of local women are birthing at home or in the primary birthing units (in Alexandra and Queenstown).

The Wānaka App asked Te Whatu Ora what they would say to pregnant women and their families who continue to have to travel to give birth.

“Our whānau in Wānaka have access to highly competent, skilled, and professional midwives who have a strong process in place for birthing at home or in Central Otago and Dunedin,” Karen said.

“Our midwifery team actively engages with these midwives to ensure they receive the support they need. 

“We want to assure you that our team is working tirelessly to bring an amazing fit-for-purpose primary birthing unit to Wānaka and its surrounding areas soon.

“The top priority is to make sure the unit is operational before the end of the year. We are committed to providing the best possible care to families in the Wānaka area, and we can't wait to share this exciting milestone with the community.”