Tertiary Hospital Care

Tertiary maternity facilities are designed for women and babies who experience complications and may require complex, specialist care from an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician as well as a midwife.

Queen Mary Maternity Centre at Dunedin Hospital is a tertiary maternity facility.
Address: 2nd Floor, Clinical Services Block Dunedin Hospital, 201 Great King Street, Dunedin
Phone: 03 474 0999

Your stay at Queen Mary Maternity Centre

Queen Mary Maternity Centre is part of Dunedin Hospital. After giving birth women can choose to stay at the base hospital or transfer to a primary maternity unit close to home for post-partum recovery.

There are six birthing rooms, in addition to antenatal and postnatal rooms.  Two of the birthing rooms have access to a pool, we have a deep bath and all rooms have a shower. 

Women can expect to remain in hospital until both they and their baby are clinically well.  This varies depending on each woman’s birthing experience but, for most women this will be within 48 hours.

Transfer to Primary Maternity Units

Women who live rurally but birth at Dunedin Hospital are encouraged to transfer to their primary care unit when they are discharged from hospital.  Generally this transfer is within 12 hours following a normal birth and 24 hours following a caesarean section, but can be dependent on individual circumstances.

Hospital staff will check that a bed and staff are available in the primary maternity unit before transfer is confirmed. Once discharged by the Obstetric Team the expectation would be to transfer back to your Primary Care Unit or home, under your LMC’s care.

Specialist Clinics

The Hospital has specialist antenatal clinics Monday to Friday.  A referral can also be made to a certified lactation consultant to assist with specific breastfeeding challenges.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Dunedin Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides tertiary level (highly specialised) care to babies born prematurely (from 23 weeks gestation) and for newborn babies to three months of age who require intensive care.

Visiting

Visiting hours at Queen Mary Maternity Centre are from 2pm - 8pm.  

• There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services (including primary, secondary, and tertiary services).

• Children can visit if supervised by an adult.

• One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bed rooms).

• If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including children if supervised by an adult. 

For maternity services

• There is no strict restriction on visitor numbers in our maternity services (including primary, secondary, and tertiary services).
• Children can visit if supervised by an adult.
• One key support person is allowed in the inpatient room overnight if the patient is in a single room or if approved by the senior midwife in charge (for multi-bed rooms).
• If the pregnant person is attending a maternity outpatient assessment or appointment, they can bring multiple support people, including children if supervised by an adult.

Parking

Dunedin Hospital car parking facilities are reserved for outpatients only. However, paid car parking is available in the surrounding areas. Please visit the DCC websitefor more information on nearby car parking for staff, patients and visitors. Disability car parks are available on the upper concourse and by the Hospital Entrances on Great King Street and Cumberland Street.

Smokefree Policy

Both Queen Mary Maternity and all of Dunedin Hospital are smokefree.  If this will be a concern for you, please discuss the possibility of nicotine replacement therapy with your LMC.