The Health Select Committee has released its recommendation on Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker's petition to re-instate full services at Lumsden Maternity, but only goes so far as to recommend the House of Representatives "take note" of its response.

It appears the Committee will also be looking to see the outcome of the DHB's independent review of how it implemented its controversial changes to primary maternity care in the south. 

Mr Walker's petition, presented to the House almost a year ago, highlighted concerns the Southern District Health Board's (DHB) decision to eliminate birthing services and post-natal stays at the Lumsden Maternity Centre, which took effect earlier this year.

The concerns expressed in Mr Walker's petition revolved around health and safety, the decision’s inconsistency with the Ministry of Health’s Service Coverage Schedule, issues with the data used to make the decision, and the effect the decision to downgrade the primary birthing unit would have on the rural community.

Labour List MP Dr Liz Craig said Labour members of the committee acknowledged the Southern DHB had consulted on the changes to its maternity services and was developing Maternal and Child Hubs in Te Anau and Wanaka, where urgent birthing facilities weren’t previously available.

However, the committee report also notes recent events in the Lumsden area where four women were unable to reach a primary birthing unit in time following the maternity centre's downgrade.

The committee members express concern over some of those recent cases, such as one woman giving birth in an ambulance while on her way to Southland Hospital, or another instance where a woman gave birth rapidly in the Lumsden hub's carpark. 

"We are not assured that the regraded hub was fit for purpose at the time the Lumsden centre was downgraded. We want to make sure that the Southland area has 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 says.

"We intend to follow up with the ministry and the SDHB to get progress updates about the transition to the new model."

Dr Craig said Labour members were concerned the promised Hubs in Te Anau and Lumsden weren’t up and running before the DHB transitioned Lumsden from a primary birthing unit. 

"In particular, we were concerned about the availability of second midwife cover for urgent births, as well as the appropriate facilities and equipment not being in place at the time the transition occurred," she said.

“While Labour members welcomed the independent review into how the DHB had implemented its new model of care, it was our expectation that the appropriate midwifery cover and equipment would be in place at all times at these Hubs and we have asked the DHB to report back to the Committee on these concerns as soon as the review is complete”. 

Mr Walker said the report re-iterated what he had been saying for months regarding the hub's suitability after the downgrade.

“The situation is such that the Southern DHB has agreed to provide a short-term midwife based in Lumsden out of concern for the safety of our rural mothers and babies – effectively accepting that Lumsden needs to have a fully-serviced maternity unit.

“The downgrade has put Southland mums at risk. It’s time for the Government to front up and reinstate full services.”

“Despite the findings of the Health Select Committee, it’s clear the Government MPs are satisfied with the level of maternity services being provided for Southland mothers and babies and will continue with the roll out of the unsafe hub model.”