A Doctor, Recruited for Whakatāne Hospital's Soon-to-be Restored Secondary Maternity Services, Resigns

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says Health New Zealand has assured her the restoration remains on track for March or April this year.

She said three senior medical officers have been recruited and will start work by the end of February.

She added that recruitment for a fourth senior medical officer is well advanced.

“So in light of the unfortunate circumstances, which mean we now need to find another doctor, we are still well on track to open that secondary service.”

Kirkpatrick said it takes time to recruit people of that level of skill, “but the fact that they will have four here and ready to successfully get going is a big, big help.”

Since January 2025, women have been forced to travel to Tauranga due to a downgrade of Whakatāne Hospital's Gynaecology and Obstetrics department.

“It's been an unfortunate circumstance that got us to this point, but we are working really hard, and Health New Zealand has worked really hard over the last year, to make sure that we get this secondary service up and running,” said Kirkpatrick.

She says the service is much needed and valued among the community.

“It has been a worry for people to have to go to Tauranga to have their babies, and a real worry for mothers, who are doing that for the first time or who may have had some complications.”

She explained that Whakatāne Hospital has a “wide catchment” around the eastern Bay of Plenty and up the east coast.

“Whakatane Hospital has birthed in the vicinity of 600 babies a year,” she adds.

“It's always been the case that it would be restored. There was never any doubt that it's required.”