BOPDHB History Tauranga Hospital Centennial Book | Page 27

Dr Richard Speed, Head of Department,
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Dr Speed has delivered
approximately 5000
babies throughout the
30 years he has worked
at Tauranga Hospital
including, at least 200
sets of twins and four
sets of triplets.

Trish Simpson, Tauranga resident
I was born at home in 1943 which I believe was just prior
to the opening of the Maternity Annexe in 1944. In 1968
and again in 1971 two of my three children were born at
the Maternity Annexe. On the first occasion Sister McKean
was the Matron in charge and she ran a tight ship. I’m sure
many people will remember her and her means of transport
– an old lightweight motorcycle.

“Women used to be
transported from the
Maternity Annexe to
the main hospital by
ambulance when I
“In 1983 the ethnicity of women giving
first started. St John’s
birth at the hospital would have been 65 per
Ambulance would be
cent European and 25-30 per cent Māori.
Now at least 20-30 per cent are Indian,
called and a driver
Bangladeshi, Asian or Pacifica families and
would drive the
women often require translation services.”
ambulance from St
John’s on 17th Avenue to the Maternity Annexe and then
take the patient across to Theatre. After a while orderlies
where trained to drive the ambulance, but often we would
have to push people across to Theatre on a stretcher or
trolley through the waiting area of the then new Emergency
Department. There was minimal privacy and it wasn’t good,
so things have improved,” Richard says.
Other main changes Richard says, is the increase in
Caesarean Sections and an increase in the age of women
having babies. “Thirty years ago the Caesarean Section
rate would’ve been about 10 per cent. It’s now somewhere
between 25 and 30 per cent - a phenomenal increase. Also,
many women start having a family after 30 and into their
40’s - it’s not uncommon,” says Richard.
Working in this field brings a lot of joy, Richard says, and
is not without its stresses or its rewards. “There was an
occasion when I was off-duty and just happened to be
walking past the Delivery Suite when I was called in.
Someone was in distress after having a baby as another
one was on its way. Twins were undiagnosed until the birth
of the first baby, and the second baby was in a perilous
state. I went in and managed to deliver the baby. I can’t
mention names, but that baby went on to become a local
champion New Zealand Sports Person!”

21