Health minister receives Lumsden petition

Health Minister David Clark believes communities like Lumsden are rightly protective of local health services.

Clark was responding to CluthaSouthland MP Hamish Walker presenting a petition opposing the downgrading of the Lumsden Maternity Centre yesterday. Walker had collected the final petition forms from throughout Southland on Monday night, bringing the total number of signatures in support of the centre to 5100.

‘‘I told him [Clark] about the emergency birth at the centre on Friday, where a Te Anau couple would’ve faced a roadside birth en route to Invercargill if it wasn’t for the Lumsden Maternity Centre and I passed on my other concerns regarding the downgrade, on behalf of the Lumsden and wider Southland community,’’ Walker said.

Under the original Southern Primary Maternity Systems of Care proposal presented by the Southern District Health Board, the Lumsden Maternity Centre would lose its primary birthing unit status and instead become a maternity and child hub, with a reduced suite of services available.

Clark said the passion shown by the community to save the centre was not unexpected. ‘‘I do understand the depth of local feeling on this issue – communities such as Lumsden are rightly protective of local health services.’’

Three Southland members of Parliament have highlighted the importance of the issue to the minister.

‘‘Members of Parliament Hamish Walker, Mark Patterson and Dr Liz Craig have all made representations about the importance of quality care for the local community,’’ Clark said.

The divide between the services provided to rural women and those in urban areas was something Walker was keen to bring to the minister’s attention.

‘‘I also challenged him to ask Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is she would be comfortable travelling 130 kilometres to give birth, like some of our rural mothers might have to,’’ Walker said.

He said rural mothers deserved much better and he hoped the health minister would listen to their concerns.

Clark said the Southern District Health Board would now need to have a