Birthing unit to reopen

Last updated 05:00 06/04/2011

 

The birthing unit at Burwood Hospital will reopen next week.

The maternity facility, which suffered minor damage in February's earthquake, will reopen on Monday at 8am.

The Canterbury District Health Board said the unit was closed to ease demand on water supplies and fragile sewerage and electricity infrastructure.

The board's general manager for women's and children's health, Pauline Clark, said Christchurch Women's Hospital coped with the extra demand.

"We had sufficient beds at Christchurch Women's Hospital and at the other two birthing units [Rangiora and Lincoln] that remained open to cope with demand during this time."

The Burwood unit was also on standby for earthquake emergency cases.