Winton Maternity Manager Wins Surprise Community Service Award

A Winton health worker's three decades of dedication to rural maternity care has been recognised with a surprise Community Service Award.

Debbie McDougall, service manager at Winton Maternity Centre, was presented with the award by Southland District Council and the Oreti Community Board on Thursday in a ceremony that caught her completely off guard.

Mayor Rob Scott said McDougall's work had created an enduring legacy of high-quality care in rural Southland.

"She has been a backbone of the southern maternity service for over three decades and probably thousands of families owe her a massive vote of thanks," he said. "Her contribution has been amazing."

McDougall has been a leading figure in Winton's rural maternity sector for over 30 years, taking over from the centre's original midwives Pat Henderson and Anne Clark, who attended the ceremony as special guests. The pair had campaigned strongly to keep the maternity centre open around 30 years ago and were very supportive of McDougall's appointment to the manager's role.

Her fierce advocacy has been crucial in keeping the vital service alive in the community. She has made the case tirelessly with major funders to keep the centre open, working with a limited Health New Zealand budget of just 30% equivalent of the same services operated by Health New Zealand in the Southern District.

McDougall maintains a strong belief that care for new families in rural communities is essential. Her commitment is driven by a desire to have maternity facilities and care available within geographical reach of rural women. As a result, the service provides care from Kingston to Stewart Island to Fiordland, while other rural Southland services have been closed.

While employed as the centre manager, McDougall contributes many more unpaid hours voluntarily. She is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Colleagues describe her as a caring and understanding manager with both patients and staff.

McDougall has built a team of mostly registered nurses to work in the maternity service through significant advocating and commitment. Midwives in Winton work independently for the maternity service and have an access agreement to the centre for births and postpartum care.

She introduced rooms where partners can stay with new mothers and newborns, a service not available at other facilities. The high quality of service she maintains has enabled her to build relationships across the rural maternity sector, meaning the centre has received equipment donations and peer support.

Beyond maternity care, McDougall oversees the community nurse service, runs the local foodbank, supports those in need, and coordinates an elderly day programme held at the centre twice weekly.