Hamish WalkerLumsden Maternity Centre will cease to be a primary birthing unit on Monday, as scheduled, despite Parliament's health select committee still considering a petition seeking to maintain the centre's status. The maternity centre is being converted to a maternal and child hub, as part of the Southern District Health Board's (SDHB) region-wide review of maternity services. "We've tried everything possible to save the centre - a protest march, a petition and appeals to multiple ministers and the DHB," Mr Walker said. SDHB chief executive Chris Fleming wrote to Mr Walker this week to confirm the transition would continue. "It is evident that you have developed a future-focused primary maternity plan that aligns with the Government's wider priority around strengthening maternity care.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 12, 2019 16:30 UTC