A baby born in the Lumsden maternal and child hub car park today has once again brought calls for prompt action by the Government.

Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker said the third emergency birth since the Lumsden Maternity Centre was downgraded in April only confirmed his recent call for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to "urgently intervene".

“Today’s birth progressed so rapidly the mother had to give birth in the car park of the Lumsden maternal and child hub. If the maternity centre had not been downgraded there would have been a second midwife on site, which would have dramatically increased the mother’s chances of making it inside to give birth.

“Within a couple of hours she was also discharged with there no longer being any post-natal care at the maternal and child hub."

The car park birth comes after a baby was born in an ambulance on the side of the road last month, as well as another child at the emergency birthing facility at the Lumsden and Maternal Hub at the beginning of this month.

Northern Southland Health Trust chair Carrie Adams said it was only a matter of time until a midwife wasn't available in such a circumstance.

Mrs Adams said the region's only two LMCs can't be in all places at once.

"It seems that we just keep having these really, really close calls where the outcome is okay but really it’s not. It’s only a matter of time until the midwife won’t be able to attend, to be at these very quick births."

She said she echoed Mr Walker's calls for the government to step in.

"I’m absolutely confident that we’re doing absolutely everything that we can. We’re in daily contact with MPs from across the board and we’re not letting the pressure up in this regard... this is something that can't wait for months and months and years for it to be addressed. It’s a completely urgent issue."

Mr Walker said the downgrade of the Lumsden Maternity Centre continued to result in anxious mothers worrying about where they would end up giving birth.

“It is not only the physical health and safety of these women that needs to be taken into consideration, but also their mental health, as they are being placed under immense stress.