新西兰卫生部副部长凯西·科斯特洛（Casey Costello）今日正式为新西兰卫生局（Health New Zealand）在奥克兰市中心设立的首家初级分娩中心举行揭幕仪式。这是奥克兰市中心首个以助产士主导（Midwifery-led）的初级分娩中心，旨在为孕产妇提供更多分娩选择。

这座名为Whānau Ngā Uri的新分娩中心位于帕内尔（Parnell），将实行全天24小时、每周7天开放，预计每年可为约400名产妇及其家庭提供服务。

科斯特洛表示：

“今天是提升妇女生育选择的重要里程碑。”

“我要感谢所有临床医护人员、助产士及合作伙伴，他们不懈努力，最终促成了这项服务的落成。”

打造更温馨、更安全的分娩环境

新中心采用助产士主导的护理模式，营造安静、舒适、如家一般的生产环境，同时距离奥克兰市医院（Auckland City Hospital）仅数分钟路程，如遇紧急情况，可迅速转送至专科医院接受进一步治疗。

科斯特洛表示：

“真正的选择十分重要。每位女性都应能够选择最适合自己及家庭的分娩方式。”

配备水中分娩设施

新中心设有：

• 3间现代化分娩室，均配备水中分娩（Water Birth）设施
• 家庭共享休息空间
• 由10名新西兰卫生局助产士组成专业团队提供服务
• 全天候保持至少2名助产士现场值班

提供完整孕产护理服务

除了接生外，新中心还将提供：

• 孕期检查（Antenatal Care）
• 产后护理（Postnatal Care）
• 急症孕妇评估
• 与卫生局助产士及社区助产士共同协作接生
• 婴儿及产妇疫苗接种
• 抗D免疫球蛋白（Anti-D）注射
• 铁剂静脉输注（Iron Infusions）
• 初级医疗评估等综合服务

缓解奥克兰产科压力

奥克兰都会区是新西兰分娩需求最高的地区之一，平均每天约有65名婴儿出生。

新中心投入使用后，将增加市中心初级分娩服务能力，进一步优化区域产科资源配置，减轻大型医院产房压力。

培养未来助产人才

该中心同时也是重要的临床教学基地，将为：

• 助产专业学生
• 医学院学生
• 新毕业助产士

提供实习及规范化培训机会，进一步提升新西兰产科护理队伍能力。

产妇可享三天免费产后护理

在该中心生产的母亲，将优先获得入住产后护理病房资格，可享受由Birthcare提供、新西兰卫生局（Health NZ）资助的三天产后护理服务。

政府预算投入3440万纽元提升产科服务

科斯特洛表示，新中心启用落实了2026年政府财政预算（Budget 2026）有关改善孕产妇医疗服务的重要承诺。

根据2026年预算案，政府将在未来四年投入3440万纽元，用于：

• 扩充全国产科服务能力
• 增加助产士等医疗人力资源
• 确保所有产妇均可享有最长三天政府资助的产后护理服务

她表示：

“分娩后的几天，无论身体还是心理，对母亲来说都是最辛苦的时期。她们需要时间恢复身体、与新生儿建立亲密联系，并逐渐建立照顾宝宝的信心，而不应被迫匆忙出院。”

她最后表示：

“今天启用这项服务，不仅大幅提升了奥克兰市中心的产科医疗能力，也让更多母亲和新生儿拥有更好的开始。”

Health New Zealand’s first primary birthing unit in central Auckland was officially opened by Associate Health Minister Casey Costello today.

Whānau Ngā Uri, which is located in Parnell, will operate 24/7 and support up to 400 women and their families each year.

“Today marks an important milestone in helping to deliver more choice for women giving birth,” Ms Costello says.

“I want to acknowledge the clinicians, midwives and partners who have worked tirelessly to bring this service to life.”

The new unit provides a calm, home-like, midwifery-led environment, while remaining close to Auckland City Hospital for rapid transfer if specialist care is needed.

“Providing real choice matters. Women should be able to choose the birthing experience that is right for them and their family,” Ms Costello says.

The facility includes three birthing suites – each equipped for water births – and a shared family space. It will be staffed by 10 Health New Zealand midwives, with two onsite at all times. 

The service will deliver acute assessment and support births with both Health New Zealand and community midwives, alongside antenatal and postnatal care including vaccinations, anti-D, iron infusions, and primary assessment.

Metro Auckland is one of New Zealand’s highest-demand maternity areas, with approximately 65 births each day. The introduction of this service provides dedicated primary birth capacity and supports a more distributed model of care.

“This is also a key clinical training environment, with opportunities for midwifery and medical students, as well as structured support for new graduate midwives to build capability in maternity care.”

Women who give birth at the facility will have priority access to stay onsite for their three-day postnatal stay, which is funded by Health NZ and delivered by Birthcare.

Ms Costello says the opening aligns with the Government’s Budget 2026 commitment to improve access to maternity care.

Budget 2026 provides $34.4 million over four years to expand maternity capacity and support the workforce, ensuring all women can access up to three days of funded postnatal care.

“The days following birth can be intense and physically demanding. Mothers need time to recover, bond with their baby, and build confidence — they shouldn’t feel rushed to leave,” she says.

“I’m proud to open this service today, marking a significant boost to maternity care in central Auckland, and a step forward in giving every mother and baby the best possible start.”