The birth of a Lumsden baby in an ambulance on Sunday while the mother was travelling from the Northern Southland town to hospital in Invercargill stoked the debate over the SDHB's decision to alter Lumsden's birthing unit to a maternal and child hub as part of a region-wide review of maternity services.
Over the past few weeks locals and the SDHB have been locked in an increasingly bitter dispute over what equipment and services have been provided in hubs in Te Anau and Lumsden.
During question time in Parliament yesterday, Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker asked Dr Clark if he was satisfied an appropriate standard of maternity care was available in the region.
Dr Clark said the maternity services review had put in place five maternal and child hubs, including new services in Te Anau and Wanaka, six birthing units, and two tertiary and secondary services.
"I'm disappointed that not all of the new services have been fully rolled out yet: I've made that disappointment clear to the DHB, and I've asked them to provide me with assurances that those services will be fully in place soon and a detailed time line,'' Dr Clark said.
"The chief executive has assured me that they are continuously monitoring the implementation of this service and are working closely with the Ministry of Health on the matter.
"I will be holding the chair of the DHB or the commissioner accountable for delivering what has been promised.''
Mr Walker later told the Otago Daily Times he had written to Dr Clark on May 9 setting out that the Lumsden hub was not operational, as promised.
He said he was disappointed Dr Clark had told the House yesterday that he did not take action on the letter as it did not raise anything new.
"The decision to travel from Lumsden to Invercargill was made by the midwife because the Lumsden hub was missing lifesaving equipment, that I warned him about three weeks earlier,'' Mr Walker said.
"It beggars belief the minister is playing Russian roulette with Southland mothers and babies.''
Parliament's health select committee should today vote on what action to take with Mr Walker's 5000-signature petition which calls for the Lumsden Maternity Centre to be saved.
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It beggars belief that the Lumsden unit was closed without ensuring the replacements were fully ready. There should be no need for a locked bitter dispute - hold an open day and let all people interested look and then discuss any modifications or foreseen problems. And also, emergency services and others in the community will also know what is available in times of need.