After meeting with the midwives earlier this week; the Whanganui District Health Board can confirm the current maternity services in Taihape will continue.

Women will continue to have the option to give birth and receive their postnatal care in the Taihape maternity unit.

Whanganui DHB chief executive Julie Patterson said that the midwives had put together a proposal which the district health board has in principal accepted.

“There are still some aspects of the proposal which we are working through, such as the facility and security, but we are committed to retaining the maternity services currently available to the women in the Taihape community” said Mrs Patterson.

“Both meetings we have had with the midwives have been very positive and the midwives are pleased with the outcome.”

“There has also been concern from the midwives about becoming lead maternity carers, and we have assured them that they will either be employed by the district health board or the Whangnaui Regional Primary Health Organisation (WRPHO).”

Each year the Taihape maternity service cares for approximately 120 women and around half of the women give birth in Taihape.