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Secondary Hospital Care

Secondary maternity facilities are designed to adapt to any birthing complication (after 30 weeks’ gestation) that may require a shared care approach by an experienced team.  Members of the team may include a midwife, an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician and nurses.

Southland Hospital, in Invercargill, is secondary maternity facility.
Address: Kew Road, Invercargill
Phone: 03 218 1949

Your stay at Southland Hospital Maternity Service

Southland Hospital Maternity Service is part of Southland Hospital in Invercargill.

There are 14 combined antenatal/postnatal beds and 4 birthing rooms in the Southland Maternity Unit.  The antenatal and postnatal beds, each with ensuite facilities.

Women can expect to remain in hospital until both they and their baby are clinically well.  This varies depending on each woman’s birthing experience but, for most women this will be within 48 hours.

Transfer to Primary Maternity Units

Women who live rurally but birth at Southland Hospital are encouraged to transfer to their primary care unit when they are discharged from hospital.  Generally this transfer is within 12 hours following a normal birth and 24 hours following a caesarean section, but can be dependent on individual circumstances.

Hospital staff will check that a bed and staff are available to continue your care in the primary maternity unit before transfer is confirmed.  Once discharged by the Obstetric Team the expectation would be to transfer back to your Primary Care Unit or home, under your LMC’s care.

Specialist Clinics

Southland Hospital’s Maternity Unit has specialist antenatal clinics Monday to Friday.  A referral can also be made to a certified lactation consultant to assist with specific breastfeeding challenges.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Southland Hospital has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) providing level two neonatal and intensive care to babies born prematurely (from 30 weeks gestation) and for newborn babies to three months of age who require intensive care.

Secondary and Tertiary Visitor Information

Visiting hours  are from 2pm - 8pm

  • There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services (including primary, secondary, and tertiary services).

  • Children can visit if supervised by an adult.

  • One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bed rooms).

  • If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including children if supervised by an adult. 

Primary Maternity Visitor Information

Primary Maternity Units can be managed by different rural trusts, and visitors should always follow the visiting policy provided by that facility. It is recommended that you ring ahead or ask your Lead Maternity Carer the policy that applies to the place you or your whanau are birthing at. In general, the following visiting information applies to Primary Maternity Units:

  • There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services (including primary, secondary, and tertiary services).
  • Children can visit if supervised by an adult.
  • One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bed rooms).
  • If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including children if supervised by an adult.

Access to the Unit after hours

For the safety of all patients in the hospital, after 8.00pm until 7.00am the only access to the maternity unit is via the front entrance of the hospital.

Parking

Free car parking is available on site and 120-minute parking spaces are located in the surrounding areas of Kew and Elles Road. Southland Hospital also has dedicated disability parking near main entrance points to the hospital buildings.

Smokefree Policy

Both Southland Hospital and the surrounding grounds are smokefree.  If this will be a concern for you, please discuss the possibility of nicotine replacement therapy with your LMC.