New arrangements for maternity patients

Tauranga Hospital’s new maternity unit opens in just under three weeks and that means all women due to give birth around that time need to know where to go when they are in labour.

The delivery suite, antenatal and postnatal ward, day assessment unit and special care baby unit move to the first floor of the hospital on June 10.

Clinical midwife manager Pauline ten Have says around 600 women are due to give birth between May and July. All these women are in the process of being contacted by their lead maternity carers.

“Extensive planning has been underway for some time to ensure the move goes smoothly for antenatal women, those who are in labour on moving day and for patients who have already had their babies who are being moved into the new ward,” she says.

The move will take place from 7.30am - 12.30pm. Birthing mothers who arrive at the hospital after 8am on moving day will have their babies in the new unit. Ms ten Have says they will need to go to the hospital’s main entrance. There is a drop-off area outside the front entry.

Postnatal mothers in the old unit will be transferred to the new ward at 10.30am on moving day. Both mothers and babies will be transferred by either wheelchair or ambulance. All patients will be accompanied by an assigned midwife or nurse.

Special care babies will be moved from 8.30am.

Women admitted to the old unit who are in labour on moving day will give birth in the new unit, but this will depend on how their labour is advancing.

Ms ten Have says visitors should be kept to a minimum while the shift is underway.

“We suggest partners only stay with the patients for the move.”

Birthing mothers arriving at the hospital between 8pm – 6am should go to the main entrance and press the intercom button at the main entrance. Reception staff will then open the doors.

The team responsible for moving maternity to its new home has asked for patience from the public on move day.

Decanting and migration manager Nola Ardern says on the morning of June 10 the internal hospital road from Cameron Rd to the hospital’s front entry may become congested at times. She says people will have to be mindful of trucks travelling between the old maternity building and the hospital. There will also be an increased amount of foot traffic in this area.

Extra security will be posted near the hospital’s front entry during the move.
The hospital’s internal street – which takes people from the front entry to the outpatients’ department and lifts - may also be busier than usual and there may be a longer than usual wait for lifts.

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