Minister fronts over SDHB decision
Health minister Dr David Clark came under fire in Parliament this week when he said the decision to downgrade the Lumsden Maternity Centre ‘‘will result in a higher level of services for women in the district.’’
The Southern District Health Board announced this month it will downgrade the primary birthing unit at Lumsden to a ‘‘maternal and child hub’’ and would also establish one at Wanaka and Te Anau, as part of its Integrated Primary Maternity System of Care.
National health spokesman Michael Woodhouse, who questioned the Minister about the downgrade, said in a statement the decisions to ‘‘axe’’ the birthing unit at Lumsden and not provide one in Wanaka was devastating for communities and would lead to worse outcomes for mothers and babies in the lower Southland region.
About 100 women a year give birth or receive post-natal care at the Lumsden Maternity Centre. Primary birthing units would remain in Winton and Gore which were around 35 and 45 minutes away respectively.
‘‘The Minister’s claim that ‘this will result in a higher level of services for women in the district beggar’s belief.
‘‘How can it be that having expecting and potentially delivering mothers travel up to 130km through one of the most remote and weather-affected regions in New Zealand to get to a birthing unit would result in better services and outcomes for them and their babies?
‘‘It has been brought to our attention by the community and by Lumsden’s directors that some of the data in the report that the decision to axe Lumsden’s birthing unit was based on is clearly wrong, and does not represent the true extent of the care provided at the centre.
‘‘What’s worse is that the Health Minister, David Clark, outlined that he has asked the Ministry to review the decision, but relied on the same officials and the same flawed advice that informed the first decision.’’
In the house, Clark said the Ministry [of Health] reviewed Southern DHB’s decision and raised no concerns about the quality of data used in reaching that decision.
‘‘Due to the intense community interest and the impact of travel distances, I’m advised the Southern DHB sought external advice from midwifery consultants to help them understand this risk. The external advisers provided their opinion that there is no additional clinical risk in moving Lumsden to a maternal and child hub, as opposed to a birthing facility, if Southern DBH implements the required mitigation.’’
Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker, who also questioned Clark in the House, said ‘‘during question time today, he [Clark] refused to listen to concerns I raised with him around the quality of the data used for the report.