■The return of secondary obstetric and gynaecology services to the Eastern Bay has been strengthened by progress in recruiting permanent specialists and establishing clinical leadership, writes Health NZ regional director Cath Cronin

I am pleased to share an update on the continued progress of secondary obstetric and gynaecology services at Whakatāne Hospital.

Several months on from the return of local services, women and whānau across the Eastern Bay are once again able to access specialist maternity care closer to home.

We know how important this is for our community.

Being able to receive care locally means less time travelling, greater continuity of care, and more opportunity for whānau to be involved and supported throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Since services resumed, significant progress has been made in building a sustainable specialist workforce for the future.

Four of the five planned permanent specialist obstetricians have now started at work, with internationally recruited clinicians settling into both the service and the Eastern Bay community.

I am also pleased to confirm that the fifth specialist has signed a contract and is expected to join the team in early December, completing the planned recruitment programme.

Strong clinical leadership is equally important.

The service has recently appointed one of its new specialists as head of department for Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Whakatāne Hospital, providing local leadership and supporting the continued development of the service.

These achievements have only been possible through the commitment and collaboration of many people.

I want to thank the clinical, operational and support teams at both Whakatāne and Tauranga hospitals who have worked closely together to rebuild and strengthen local maternity services.

I want to acknowledge and thank our dedicated midwives, who provide expert care and guidance to support women and whānau through pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenthood.

Their dedication has helped ensure Eastern Bay whānau can once again access secondary maternity care closer to home.