The news is slightly better for Wanaka, whose midwives had been calling for the Central Otago town to be given primary birthing unit status. "It is also relatively close to two further primary birthing units, in Winton and Gore. Lumsden Maternity Centre is owned by the Northern Southland Health Company charity. Birthing options in Central Otago remained to be determined, although Alexandra's Charlotte Jean Maternity Hospital would remain a birthing unit for now, the SDHB said. "There are outstanding questions around the best location for a primary birthing unit for central Otago in the long term, and we will establish a process to explore this question.''

Source: Otago Daily Times August 10, 2018 00:06 UTC