Birthing centres shut at Christmas

Birthing centres in Lower Hutt and Mangere are closing over the busy Christmas period, throwing the birth plans of many women into disarray.

The organisation which runs Nga Hau Ma¯ngere and Te Awakairangi birthing centres has criticised Counties-Manukau, Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast district health boards for failing to ‘‘engage over delivering the maternity care to which mothers are entitled’’.

As a result the Wright Family Foundation, which has spent $2.5 million running the two centres since they opened two years ago, has chosen to close the facilities from December 20 to January 6, leaving mothers-to-be to urgently make new plans.

Foundation chief executive and birthing centre director Chloe Wright said paying for the centres was only supposed to be an interim measure.

The DHBs’ refusal to support the service meant closure was its only option, she said. ‘‘We can’t wait for years.’’

DHBs were funded to provide post-natal care but instead sent mothers home early without support, she said. New mothers were being treated as units to ‘‘push on, and push out’’, she said.

Birthing centres like were the solution, she said. hers

‘‘We have been left with no choice until the DHBs are willing to recognise the primary birthing centres in these regions are the solution to maternity care problems,’’ Wright said.

Hutt Valley MP Chris Bishop said he would seek an arrangement with the DHB to keep the birthing centre open over Christmas. ‘‘I can’t think of a worse time for the birthing centre to be closed,’’ he said. ‘‘It is ridiculous we can’t come to an agreement for the DHB to support it.’’

Since it opened two years ago, Te Awakairangi had made a big difference for mothers in the Hutt Valley, he said.

‘‘It is an alternative model to giving birth in a hospital but it is a model that works.’’

Capital & Coast DHB strategy, innovation and performance executive director Rachel Haggerty said mothers and babies at the board’s hospitals did receive safe and quality care.

‘‘Women are able to choose where to give birth, and we acknowledge the birthing centres’ contribution to giving many women and families another choice. However, we are not in a position to invest in another primary birthing facility – especially while our own strategic planning is ongoing.

‘‘[Women] will be able to access care and treatment through our services at any time, including the holiday period.’’

The Counties-Manukau and Hutt Valley DHBs were contacted for comment.