Health New Zealand (HNZ) said the change in practice was an ‘‘interim operational trial’’ it introduced late last year because Dunedin Hospital had more staffing, bed availability and the tertiary-level capability to safely receive patients when specialist care was required.
But the situation is far from ideal, Queenstown people say.
Only the birthing mother can travel in the ambulance or aircraft during a transfer, leaving partners and support people to drive up to four hours to Dunedin, increasing the risk they could miss the baby’s birth.
To avoid the prospect of having to rush to Dunedin, more expectant mothers are now being advised to travel early to Invercargill to have their baby delivered there.
The trial throws the spotlight on maternity services at Queenstown’s Lakes District Hospital, which many believe need to be improved, especially in light of the ongoing fuel crisis.
Local parent Paul Jaquin said it was ‘‘very frustrating for lots of people to have to go to Dunedin for maternity care’’.
‘‘Queenstown’s a growing population; we’ve got a fairly young population; there are increasingly more mothers here — I would argue possibly more so than Dunedin.
‘‘There should be a maternity care facility here which is better than we currently have, and it should be higher up the priority list.’’
Local MP Joseph Mooney said he had been in contact with HNZ about the change.
‘‘My understanding is it comes down to staffing issues [in Invercargill] and that’s one of the things they’ve got to work through, but I’m certainly keen to see this resolved as soon as possible.’’
He also noted the area had one of the youngest populations in the country, and a fast-growing population.
Longtime local midwife Sharon White, from Mountain Midwives, said her practice’s policy was to travel with its clients when they had to give birth out of town, and Invercargill was doable.
‘‘If they’re in labour or having a baby, we’ll go with them and stay down there, and then catch a taxi back, but we can’t do that in Dunedin. Like, that’s just ridiculous.
‘‘We do try and travel with them [to Dunedin], like in the helicopter, but only if we know how we’re going to be able to get back.’’
If mums gave birth in Dunedin without someone who knew their birth plan, ‘‘it does really affect them and increase their chance of having further intervention and trauma outcomes’’, she said.
She pointed out Dunedin by air was only a few minutes further than Invercargill.
‘‘It’s all good when the weather’s OK, but when the weather’s not, like in winter, we have to go by ambulance.’’
HNZ Southern chief midwife Karen Ferraccioli said the change was temporary and under active review.
‘‘We recognise this change can increase stress for families, including the risk that a partner or support person may not be present. We take these impacts seriously. However, the safety of the mother and baby remains the overriding priority when a transfer is required.’’
While Invercargill was geographically closer, transfer destinations were determined by clinical safety and service capacity, not distance alone, she said.
‘‘Dunedin Hospital currently has greater staffing, bed availability and tertiary capability to safely receive patients when specialist care is required.’’
HNZ was continuing work to strengthen maternity services in Southland and engage with lead maternity carers and stakeholders on longer-term solutions, she said.
