A planned birthing unit in Clyde is in doubt after costs to build the facility have come in ‘‘significantly higher’’ than anticipated.
Plans for the 550sq m unit, which included two birthing rooms, postnatal-stay rooms, whanau room and community space, were unveiled to the public last year.
It was one of two primary birthing units announced for the Central Lakes area in November 2020 after more than a year of public outcry from midwives and mothers concerned about the standard of maternity services.
Last year the Ministry of Health announced a $7 million boost to the region’s maternity services with funding secured for two primary birthing units — the Clyde facility to be built on vacant land next to Dunstan Hospital and another in Wanaka.
In July, Te Whatu Ora southern bought a property for the Wanaka primary birthing unit which, after renovations, would incorporate one birthing room and three postnatal-stay rooms.
Addressing the health select committee last week Te Whatu Ora southern executive director of corporate services Nigel Trainor said renovations on the Wanaka property were about to commence and it was hoped the new facility would open in ‘‘a few months’ time’’.
However high costs for the planned Clyde birthing unit meant other options needed to be considered, he said.
‘‘We are now looking at a B plan and potentially doing a similar thing to what we did in Wanaka.’’
The health body had a property it was ‘‘potentially’’ going to look at, he said.
