Hikoi Shows Support for Retention of Maternity Services

Hikoi Shows Support for Retention of Maternity Services

Around 300 people turned out this afternoon in Whanganui to support midwives, mothers, whanau and the local community in their fight to keep full maternity services at Whanganui Hospital.

This comes two days after the Whanganui and MidCentral District Health Boards announced that the consultation period around the proposal to remove full maternity services from Whanganui, has been extended by four weeks. The NZ College of Midwives is pleased that consultation concerns voiced by midwives, women and the community have been heard by the DHB’s.

The CEO of the NZ College of Midwives, Karen Guilliland who was in Whanganui today for the hikoi today, has praised the efforts of local women, midwives and others in the community.

“The number of people who turned out today and the consultation period extension are the results of some very hard work by a number of people, who are absolutely focussed on achieving the best outcome for the community and the families who will be most affected by this proposal,” she says.

A protest march in Palmerston North on Monday saw a number of midwives, mothers and other members of the community take their concerns to the steps of the MidCentral DHB.

ENDS

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