Politicians from all parties on Parliament's Health select committee sternly criticised the SDHB in a report, released today, into the decision to change the Lumsden centre's status from a primary birthing unit to the maternal and child hub.
MPs said they were not convinced the Lumsden maternal and child hub was fit for purpose when Lumsden Maternity Centre was downgraded, and demanded the SDHB report back to them about its maternity services plan.
SDHB chief executive Chris Fleming said the organisation noted the report, and appreciated the "significant level of consideration'' that had been given to the challenge of providing maternity services across Southern and the issues the board continued to face as it implemented its regionwide maternity strategy.
"We acknowledge the concerns that have been raised, and accept the members' criticisms of our transition from the primary birthing unit to the maternal and child hubs.''
Northern Southland locals have been up in arms over what they see as a downgrade of services, brought about by the SDHB's regionwide review of maternity services last year.
The select committee has been deliberating over local Clutha Southland MP Hamish Walker's petition to return Lumsden Maternity Centre to its previous status as a primary birthing unit for several months.
The committee, which contains four Government and four National MPs, did not go so far as to endorse the petition's primary aim, but it did recommend Parliament take note of its report.
"This includes having appropriate facilities available for women, with the necessary equipment and staff available for communities,'' the report said.
"We intend to follow up with the ministry and the SDHB to get progress updates about the transition to the new model.''
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.
"We are concerned by one case where a woman gave birth in an ambulance while on her way to Southland Hospital.
"The woman and her midwife had stopped at the Lumsden hub for an examination; however, her midwife was not confident in the equipment present at that time, so made the call to go to Invercargill.
"A woman gave birth rapidly in the Lumsden carpark . . . we are concerned that there was not a second midwife to assist with the birth.''
Mr Walker said the committee had reiterated what he had been saying for months, that the regraded hub was not fit for purpose at the time the Lumsden Centre was downgraded.
"The downgrade has put Southland mums at risk. It's time for the Government to front up and reinstate full services.''
Each party represented on the committee issued its own view on the petition, but they were unanimous in expressing concern over the way the SDHB implemented the promised maternal and child hubs at Te Anau and Lumsden.
New Zealand First called the process "shambolic'' and said it had eroded confidence in the SDHB's new maternal 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.''
Labour said it was concerned the appropriate facilities and equipment were not in place for urgent births when the hubs opened, and at 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,'' Labour MPs 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.''
National MPs recommended full services be restored at Lumsden Maternity Centre so that 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.''
The SDHB has commissioned two independent inquiries: a "midpoint implementation review'' of the overall regional maternity services strategy, and a review specifically on the four emergency births.
In recent weeks it was agreed to hire a new short-term on-call midwife to be based at Lumsden.
That role, facilitated through the Ministry of Health-funded National Midwifery Rural Locum Scheme, is regarded as a short-term solution while further discussions about the longer-term requirements for the region are held.
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Comments
It is clear that the facilities were not properly provisioned as of the April 15 transition day so why did the transition go ahead. This is beyond comprehension to me, that a competent decision team did not hold back the transition until facilities were properly provisioned. No trust at all in a management team so persistent in their stance to transition regardless, and then protected their stance in the face of public concern.
A poor state of affairs, especially for the mothers involved. I hope that the SDHB management have learned from this and will in future take on board the concerns of their health professionals who are at the forefront of providing services.