■ Health NZ’s recruitment process that will see Whakatāne Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecological Services fully restored by next year is encouraging, writes Hikoi for Health Coalition spokesperson Nandor Tanczos

Representatives from the Hikoi for Health Coalition group continue to meet regularly with senior management at Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora to keep up the pressure for restoring full maternity services, to be a voice for the community and to raise wider concerns about understaffing at Whakatāne Hospital.

The coalition was established when Obstetrics and Gynaecological Services (O&G) were stopped at Whakatāne Hospital, forcing women needing secondary maternity care to travel to Tauranga. After organising a 1000-strong protest march through town the coalition has continued to work behind the scenes to make sure the voice of the community is not lost.

Regular meetings with Cath Cronin, the executive regional director Health New Zealand for the Midland|Te Manawa Taki have been established.

Recent announcements from Te Whatu Ora have been encouraging. The reopening of obstetrics and gynaecological services are expected in the coming year.

Ms Cronin has confirmed directly to us that they have signed three O&G senior medical officers (SMO), with one of them being ready to start by the end of the year. A fourth SMO is also being interviewed.

We have been told that they are on track for the return of full O&G services to Whakatāne by March/April 2026.

It can’t come soon enough. We know that most mums are now having their babies in Tauranga, despite the excellent midwifery services in Whakatāne.

This puts huge pressure on mums, their families and the medical services in Tauranga. We understand that they are either being referred by their midwives or they are choosing to go because they feel it is too risky to have their babies here without back-up medical services.

Another new appointment is the chief midwife, based in Tauranga, who will provide leadership and support to the Whakatāne midwives who have been working under some pressure without the local back-up of their medical colleagues.  

The Emergency Department is also facing chronic staffing issues, and we have been checking in with Ms Cronin about this as well.

She has told us that two Emergency Department SMOs will start at Whakatāne this month.  

A General Medicine SMO is also being recruited and Te Whatu Ora plans to have four registrars in place by January 2026 to support the team.

Following up on feedback from staff, the coalition has been very concerned about the complex and slow recruitment process, including that new contracts had to be signed off in Hamilton and Tauranga to fill existing local vacancies.

Ms Cronin has said this process has been streamlined and final decisions will now be made by the regional teams. Our coalition is committed to supporting better communication and engagement between Regional Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora and the community and we have suggested a number of ways in which they can maximise their engagement. This has to work for all of us, and we are here to help.

Further community hui to talk with the community are planned for late October by Te Whatu Ora.

The Hikoi for Health group are working with them to ensure that the hui are well advertised and held at times and locations that are accessible to most people. Follow us at www.facebook.com/hikoiforhealth for more details.