Keeping the faith in maternity services network

SOUTHERN DHB is confident the Primary Maternity System of Care currently being implemented is safe and clinically sound for the people of Lumsden and Te Anau, and throughout the Southern district. The MP for CluthaSouthland is unnecessarily raising anxiety when he says a change in primary maternity services is a risk to safety (ODT, 1.12.18).

The new system has been reviewed by external maternity consultants. Their judgement is that it is clinically safe, and they support the aims of improving integration with the broader health system including with GPs, hospitalbased specialists, as well as community health care providers such as St John and rescue helicopters services.

When the Lumsden Maternity Centre transitions to a Maternal and Child Hub in February, it will have all the necessary equipment needed to support LMC midwives to safely care for women and their infants — including that which may be required in the event of a rapid normal birth.

The recent appointment of a midwife to lead a Primary Maternity Services Improvement programme will help coordinate the network of primary maternity facilities and services across the district.

In October, Southern DHB introduced a new sustainability package which provides additional support for all LMC midwives working in remote and rural locations. Already more than 22 midwives working in Te Anau, Lumsden, Wanaka, Central Otago, and other rural parts of Otago and Southland have registered to receive the additional funding.

The Lumsden Maternal and Child Hub is part of a larger network of primary maternity facilities and this model of care broadens and enhances primary maternity care across the district and provides additional support for mothers and families in our communities.

All these measures go a long way to ensure the LMC midwifery workforce is well supported in the area. Dr Marion Poore

Southern DHB