Parliament's health select committee this week reported back on Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker's petition to save the centre, which was downgraded from a primary birthing unit to a maternal and child hub as part of the SHDB's region-wide review of maternity services.
While the select committee report did not endorse Mr Walker's call to reverse that decision, it nevertheless delivered a sharp rebuke to the health board.
MPs said they were not convinced the replacement Lumsden maternal and child hub was fit for purpose when the centre was downgraded, and ordered the health board to report back to them about its maternity services plan.
The health board said it acknowledged and accepted the committee's report, and that it continued to talk with stakeholders and the community to find long-term, sustainable solutions for the region.
While the committee, which contains four Government and four National MPs, did not recommend Parliament take any actions, it asked for the health board and the Ministry of Health to provide reassurance the Southland area had the appropriate level of service for maternity care.
"This includes having appropriate facilities available for women, with the necessary equipment and staff available for communities," the report said.
There have been four emergency births in the region in recent months, and the committee raised concerns about the circumstances around two of those births.
Labour MPs said they were concerned the appropriate facilities and equipment were not in place for urgent births when the hubs opened, and by the availability of second midwife cover for urgent births in Northern Southland.
"It is imperative the Southern District Health Board ensure midwifery services are resourced to a safe level and that appropriate midwifery care is available at all times," they said.
"We understand the community are extremely concerned this threshold is not being met and we believe this matter must be urgently addressed.
"We also note that similar concerns were raised in a related petition about the provision of maternity services in Wanaka."
New Zealand First Central Otago list MP Mark Patterson said the "shambolic" process had eroded confidence in the health board's new maternity strategy.
"It is clear that the facilities were not properly provisioned as of the April 15 transition day, leading to unacceptable birthing situations for a number of mothers.
"It is incumbent on the SDHB to execute its strategy effectively and do whatever it takes to rebuild the trust of the local community in this essential service."
National MPs recommended full services be restored at the Lumsden Maternity Centre so necessary safety improvements could be put in place.
"That there has not been a more adverse outcome is more down to good luck than good management and we consider it only a matter of time before there is an adverse outcome," they said.
The health board has commissioned two independent inquiries: a "midpoint implementation review" of the overall regional maternity services strategy, and a review of the four emergency births.
Chief executive Chris Fleming said those reviews were commissioned in part to understand the issues raised by the MPs in their report.
"Our commitment remains to ensuring robust maternity services are available to women right across the district.
"This includes supporting areas that have been historically underserved, such as Wanaka and Te Anau, and working with others to address the overall shortage of lead maternity care midwives."
