Parliaments health select committee has invited Lumsden community representatives to Wellington to explain why maternity services in the Southland town should not be changed.
Lumsden is being converted to a maternal and child hub as part of the Southern District Health Board's region-wide review of maternity services.
Parliament is considering a 5000-signature petition from local National MP Hamish Walker which calls for the service changes to be halted.
Yesterday the health select committee received a joint written submission from Northern Southland Health Ltd (operator of the Lumsden unit), Fiordland Medical Centre, lead maternity carers and community groups setting out opposition to the change.
The group said it breached the Ministry of Health Service Coverage Schedule, which determines levels of service which must be provided by district health boards.
''The decision does not support a model for the future that fits best practice standards, including equality and reliability of service, nor does it meet the needs of our rurally diverse catchment.
''The reduction .. creates significant health and safety risks for mothers and babies, and the change threatens the sustainability of lead maternity carers practicing in our catchment.''
Inaccurate information had been used to decide to downgrade a unit which had consistently performed well above national and SDHB averages, the submission said.
''We understand the pressures on SDHB to utilise resources wisely and the need to provide additional services and support in areas where it is desperately needed.
''However, it is completely unacceptable to downgrade Lumsden in order to redirect resources elsewhere and to put LMC practise in an unsafe and unsustainable position and expect strong outcomes.''
The committee's next meeting is on Wednesday.
