Hunter New England Health (HNE Health) this week announced that it is advertising for a Staff Specialist Obstetrician to provide specialist care for women and overall clinical management of the maternity and gynaecology service at Manning Hospital.

The news comes in the wake of unconfirmed reports that $1 million was to be invested in the maternity ward. HNE Health this week confirmed that no specific funding allocation of that amount would be made to Manning Hospital but as part of operational activities HNE Health would be launching two new initiatives; the employment of a Staff Specialist Obstetrician and the introduction of a midwifery-led clinic for women with low risk pregnancies.

According to Karen Kelly, HNE Health acute networks acting director operations, "HNE Health is committed to providing high quality, women-centred care at Manning Hospital's maternity service."

"The midwifery-led clinic will be staffed by a team of midwives who provide woman-centred antenatal care for women with low risk pregnancies. Midwives will support women in the antenatal, labour/birth and immediate post-natal period," she explained.

"Women who choose the midwifery-led clinic for their care will be referred to a specialist if they develop risk factors during their pregnancy or labour. For women with low risk pregnancies this will mean that they can receive all of their antenatal care with midwives at the hospital, who will be supported by the obstetricians.

"These initiatives will provide women in the Taree region with consistent and quality maternity care," she added.