SDHB extends submission deadline

The Southern District Health Board has extended the deadline for submissions to be made regarding the Primary Maternity System of Care proposal until Friday.

The proposal includes downgrading the Lumsden Maternity Centre in northern Southland from an inpatient primary birthing unit to a ‘‘maternal and child hub’’ with no birthing facilities and fewer postnatal care options.

Another hub would be established at Te Anau, while the Winton Maternity Centre would remain open. In all, under the proposal, the southern district maternity system will have eight birthing units and five primary maternal and child hubs to support women and their babies, working with other complementary community and primary care services.

The proposal has outraged many in the Northern Southland community, which held a public march and a public meeting in Lumsden to protest the changes to the centre.

A Facebook group called Save Lumsden Maternity 2018 has more than 3000 members. A bid to get Ed Sheeran to wear a ‘‘Save Lumsden Maternity’’ T-shirt at one of his three concerts in Dunedin to highlight the issue was unsuccessful.

Southern DHB executive director, strategy, primary and community directorate Lisa Gestro said the time extension was because of the ‘‘large amount of interest’’ in the proposal.

‘‘We are receiving many submissions and we want to ensure that everyone who wishes to make a contribution has the opportunity to do so. We welcome further input to help us to find the best possible solution for the whole district.’’

Submissions closed on March 28.