The Southern District Health Board risked upsetting "young
mums" who ought to be consulted about its rural maternity
review, board member Kaye Crowther said at the board meeting
in Invercargill last week.
Mrs Crowther expressed concern about the rural maternity
review, being undertaken after some facilities approached
management with financial and workforce issues.
The matter prompted a heated discussion at last month's
disability support advisory and community and public health
advisory committee meeting.
Mrs Crowther said mothers were "stakeholders" and had an
interest because the review could affect the care they
received.
SDHB finance and funding general manager Robert Mackway-Jones
said public consultation would occur if changes were
recommended by the advisory group undertaking the review.
Board member Neville Cook said there were indications some
maternity providers felt threatened by the review.
Mr Mackway-Jones said he was reluctant to accept providers
felt threatened, as the review was taking place only because
several providers had approached the board with their
concerns.
The board supported an understanding approach to funding
issues, not applying a national funding formula which
favoured large maternity providers with "economies of scale",
Mr Mackway-Jones said.
The advisory group is expected to report to the board in
early November.
- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.