Christchurch Women's Hospital has cracks on seven of its 10 floors requiring $4 million worth of earthquake repairs to be carried out.
The hospital is the only building in the South Island on base isolators, but it sustained many cracks in its floors during the February 2011 quake.
The Canterbury District Health Board says they will have to be fixed during the coming year.
Chief executive David Meates says the hospital remains safe and the cracks were expected in a building designed to move during earthquakes.
Where possible patients will be looked after within the hospital while the work takes place, but Mr Meates says some may have to be sent elsewhere, possibly as far away as the North Island.
However, New Zealand College of Midwives Canterbury/West Coast co-chair Kate Nicoll says it is business as usual at the hospital.
"Women and their families can be assured that the high standard of maternity care will continue to be delivered, unaffected by the ongoing repair work, much of which we understand is cosmetic."
