"A sad day."
That's how Jill Ovens, the co-leader of MERAS (the Midwives' Union) is describing the news today that St George's Hospital maternity service is closing.
Rata Midwives midwife Sheena Ross who helped organise a petition to save the unit last year said she was still reeling from the announcement which would lessen choices for mothers-to-be.
St George’s Hospital's publicly funded maternity services contract with Te Whatu Ora ends on 30 June this year and will result in the closure of the Hospital's Maternity Centre. “We have not been able to agree on a new contract extension with Te Whatu .
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