The second public meeting to help select the location for primary birthing facilities within the Central Otago and Wanaka area will take place next week in Wanaka. 

The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) and the Central Lakes Locality Network will host the meeting following a meeting in Cromwell on July 23.

Four options for a primary birthing facility have been identified and the meeting will be an opportunity for attendees to learn about feedback on the options presented so far, SDHB primary and population health general manager Mary Cleary Lyons said.

See also: End in sight to ‘long pregnancy’

“We received more than 330 submissions during the first phase of consultation. The second round of consultation has included a valuable public meeting in Cromwell on 23 July, and a further 277 submissions were received.

“We will now hold a second public meeting, this time in Wanaka, to discuss the feedback we've received before making a decision.”

SDHB primary and population health general manager Mary Cleary Lyons. PHOTO: Wanaka App

A primary birthing unit is equipped for supporting healthy women with no medical complications through labour, birth, and inpatient postnatal care. Primary maternity facilities have on-site or on-call midwifery support in addition to the woman’s chosen midwife. 

Wanaka women currently face an hour’s drive to the nearest primary birthing unit (Charlotte Jean Maternity Hospital in Alexandra) or a three and a half drive to Dunedin Hospital.

Options three and four both have Wanaka with primary birthing units. 

At the Cromwell meeting, Save Our Wanaka Midwives representative Iona Bently said the group had been advocating for a primary birthing unit in Wanaka for a long time, and either option three or four “has got to be the best answer”.

Midwife Deb Harvey says it's important that local individuals and families have their say and tell the SDHB what they want and need.

See also: “This feels like progress”: Advances for maternity support

The meeting will take place on Wednesday September 9, from 10am, at the Wanaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street.

RSVPs are essential so organisers can make sure the meeting is held in-line with level two distancing requirements. Please RSVP to [email protected] by September 7. 

The meeting will also be live streamed on Zoom, Passcode: 901303.