Two lead midwives recruited under new plan

NEW midwives have been recruited for Queenstown and Wanaka, as the Southern District Health Board’s controversial maternity plan is rolled out.

The plan, announced in March, was greeted with complaints about downgrading of services in some areas and not enough resources being made available in others.

A report being presented to a SDHB commissioners’ meeting today says two new lead maternity carer midwives have been recruited — one each for Wanaka and Queenstown.

‘‘Demand still exceeds supply in Queenstown, and an antenatal care service has been reinstated at Lakes District Hospital, with acute care through the hospital,’’ the report said.

In August, the SDHB announced a funding boost for its ‘‘sustainability package’’ for LMCs.

The report said 22 expressions of interest were received for the package, with 11 job applications made.

Three midwives had agreed to provide a weekend relief midwifery service in Wanaka, and Gore Health was contracting a relief midwife to cover Te Anau.

Northern Southland Health Company chairwoman Carrie Williams said the charity was still fighting to retain Lumsden Maternity as a birthing centre, and had formed two committees.

One had been meeting the SDHB to plan for downgrading to a hub while the other was pursuing all avenues to challenge the downgrade.

‘‘This includes reporting to [Parliament’s] health select committee, and it is hoped a full inquiry of the decision to close Lumsden Maternity is the outcome,’’ she said.

‘‘The unit is busier than ever and the board remains committed to this amazing facility.’’

The centre is scheduled to provide full primary birthing unit services until the end of February.

Wanaka women have been campaigning for a birthing centre in their town but the board’s maternity plan instead proposed a ‘‘maternal and child hub’’ for Wanaka, and an accompanying review of services.

The report said Wanaka’s first obstetric telemedicine clinic was held in late October and five women took part.

Save Our Wanaka Midwives spokeswoman Kristi James said there had been some progress over the hub, but more needed to be done.

‘‘Basically, the DHB is just paying for the single room that Wanaka Midwives has already been operating from, but this is certainly not sufficient,’’ she said.

‘‘We are still pushing for the upgrade to a primary birthing unit and a restructure of the funding model.’’

Staffing had improved but remained an issue, she said.

‘‘We have two fulltime LMCs for a caseload that should warrant four to five — the recommendation is one midwife per 40 women per annum.’’ she said.

‘‘Ideally the Wanaka catchment area would have a minimum of four fulltime midwives.

‘‘On a positive note, our midwives do now have 60 hours off call every two weeks, and we also now have two midwives on call 24/7 cover.’’