Extra help tipped for South Auckland maternity services

Health Minister David Clark has hinted extra support will be given to a hospital where baby deaths were linked to a lack of staff and bedspace.

Counties Manukau DHB has taken urgent steps to improve maternity services at Middle

more after problems like lack of staff and bed space contributed to the recent death or stillbirth of three babies. Resourcing was also a factor in other cases where patients were seriously harmed.

Clark indicated to the Herald yesterday that help could be announced soon.

“We are certainly interested in making sure we have appropriately supported facilities. I do expect to have more to say on that in coming weeks.”

He took the same line as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in blaming the previous National Government for the maternity services crisis.

“I was certainly very clear in Opposition that the $2.4 billion the previous Government stripped out of the health system has a real impact on the delivery of services.

“We have ambition to build up those workforces over time. You can’t unfortunately magic up specialists overnight.

“We set aside $2.45b in our first two Budgets for capital facilities . . . we are signalling clearly that we are investing more, and they [DHBs] should invest in more staff.”

National’s health spokesman Michael Woodhouse calls such comments a “cop out”.

A Herald probe has found maternity care for South Aucklanders fell below safe standards as services struggled to cope with increased need.