Daily Media Update - Monday 4 May 2020
No new cases in Southern
The Ministry of Health has announced no new COVID-19 cases in the Southern district today, for the sixteenth consecutive day. The region’s total remains 216, with nine active cases, 205 now recovered and two deceased.
Please note confirmed and probable cases are combined, to match Ministry case reporting. For a breakdown by Territorial Authority please visit the Southern Health website:
https://www.southernhealth.nz/sdhbCOVID19/cases-updates
Queenstown Maternity Unit moving back to Lakes Hospital building
The Queenstown Maternity Unit will move back to its permanent location in the Lakes District Hospital building this week, the Southern District Health Board announced today.
Debi Lawry, Associate General Manager for Lakes District Hospital and Rural Health, said that discussions this morning between Hospital staff and Southern DHB Property and Facilities personnel had resulted in a decision to move the Maternity Unit from its temporary location in the Dental Unit back into the Hospital wing.
In March the rapidly escalating number of COVID-19 cases in the Central Lakes District saw plans developed to temporarily move the Maternity Facility into the Dental Unit. At that time little was known about COVID-19 and overseas experience suggested there might be a severe impact on hospital facilities.
Moving the Maternity Unit out of the main hospital building was proposed to protect mothers and their babies from COVID-19 by separating them from other patients. It also freed up beds in the main building for an expected influx of COVID-19 patients. The Dental Unit was chosen because it was in close proximity to the main building if a birthing woman required extra medical support, close to St John’s Ambulance, and close to the helicopter pad, should it be required.
The Dental Unit did not have a shower facility; however it was expected a permanent shower could be quickly installed.
The decision to open the Maternity Unit in the Dental Clinic was activated sooner than anticipated, when a staff member at Lakes District Hospital tested positive for COVID-19. This led to the decision to intensively clean the hospital, and close the wards to inpatients during this period. In the interests of patient safety, and in recognition of the fast-moving situation, the move to the Dental Unit happened very quickly and a portable shower was provided as a stop-gap measure.
Fortunately over the past two weeks COVID-19 has been well-controlled in Southern, and Lakes District Hospital has not been overwhelmed by cases, as it was once thought possible.
Having the maternity unit temporarily located in the dental unit was seen as a good opportunity to undertake enhancements to the maternity wing of the hospital. However, it has become clear that incorporating a shower in the Dental Unit is a more challenging undertaking than was first believed.
The temporary shower is not an ideal arrangement, and following concerns expressed by mothers, midwives and the community, the Maternity Unit will be relocated back to its permanent home. Other plans will be made to accommodate the planned refurbishment of this area.
Lakes District Hospital thanks its patients, whanau, staff and community for their understanding and support at this time.
ENDS.