Shortage of midwives sparks alert
Waikato Hospital staff are making plans over a projected shortage of midwives over Christmas.
In May, the Waikato DHB signalled its maternity services could be stretched during December and January as a number of community-based lead maternity carer (LMC) midwives take leave.
Waikato DHB director of women’s and children’s health Michelle Sutherland said staff are now meeting weekly to monitor the situation.
Waikato DHB member Clyde Wade said the midwife shortage is ‘‘bubbling up’’ all over the country.
‘‘This could actually be quite serious, but I guess we feel a bit powerless, because the [community-based LMC] contracts are run by the Health Ministry,’’ Wade said. ‘‘We just need to make a bit of noise, because we need to get this sorted.’’
Waikato DHB executive Julie Wilson said staff have developed an interim plan for the Christmas period. Waikato has one of the highest proportions of independent community-based LMC midwives compared with hospital midwifery staff.
‘‘So being the provider of last resort is more difficult when you’ve actually got 5 per cent of the workforce,’’ Wilson said.
New Zealand College of Midwives staffer Maria Scott said constructive discussions are continuing between the midwifery workforce and the Waikato DHB.
Meanwhile, Waikato Hospital women’s health service will be formally assessed in February as it looks to regain its training accreditation.
The DHB was stripped of its accreditation for obstetrics and gynaecology in December 2015 after failing to meet three of seven standards set by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).
An independent report subsequently commissioned by the DHB also highlighted major concerns with the women’s health service, including problems that had the potential to compromise the care of new mums and their babies.
Sutherland said RANZCOG members made an informal visit to Waikato Hospital on September 11 and were encouraged by progress made by staff during the past 18 months.
‘‘It’s a very extensive report, but it concludes with the statement that they feel confident in recommending that Waikato Hospital is ready for a formal visit from RANZCOG as soon as possible, with the expectation that we will meet all accreditation standards,’’ Sutherland said.
A formal visit by RANZCOG has been planned for February 12 next year.
Waikato Hospital women’s health service has continued to come under scrutiny after it was revealed a baby died at the hospital in September last year.
The death prompted the hospital to change how C-sections were managed.
Since December 2016, elective C-sections have been carried out in the hospital’s acute surgical suite.
In a report to board members, Sutherland said the significant media attention related to ‘‘historical cases’’.
Sutherland said privacy concerns limited staff’s ability to put the DHB’s perspective forward. The hospital was providing reassurances to women and their families regarding the safety of its services.