People on the front lines of the fight to return birthing services to Lumsden Maternity Centre have taken their case to the capital today.

Watch the presentation here (NB, video feed is via Facebook)

Northern Southland Health Company spokeswoman Carrie Adams and fellow director Hannah Blakely as well as midwife Nicky Pealing and Te Anau GP Dr Paula King all spoke to a community submission at the Health Select Committee in Wellington this morning.

Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker, who attended today's meeting as a substitute for another National Party member, said all four women did Southland proud.

“They have been a part of the battle the entire way through, and like all of us, are not giving up hope. The decision on whether to investigate the downgrade decision will be made next month and we can all stand proud that we have given this fight everything we have. In Southland, we all know how important this centre is to the rural community.”

The submission involved around 10 people, ranging from company directors, midwives, GPs, and even included letters from Southland District Mayor Gary Tong and Lumsden CDA chairman Rob Scott.

Speaking to Advocate South prior to their trip, Mrs Adams said the group would be requesting the committee review the process and facts provided by the Ministry of Health behind the DHB's decision to close birthing services and post-natal stays at Lumsden Maternity. 

The centre effectively became a "Maternal and Child Hub" last month (April 15) when those services were eliminated. 

"For example, the Select Committee were told that the hubs [in Lumsden and Te Anau] are up and operational providing a great level of care, and the community takes issue with that," Mrs Adams said.

The hubs are intended to offer antenatal and postnatal care, along with being able to cover for rapid births. Advocate South reported last month the Lumsden centre, in the lead up to becoming a hub, lacked a birthing bed and certain medicines that local midwives said were necessary for rapid births.

Midwife Nicky Pealing said she recently decided to resign from her work in Lumsden with midwife Sarah Stokes because of her frustrations over how the Southern DHB has handled the downgrade, and will focus instead on working as a locum midwife across the south. 

"I can't work with what they [the Southern DHB] keep chucking at us.

"I don't feel safe here as a midwife, so I have to cut the ties."

Mr Walker's petition of more than 5000 signatures initially kickstarted the request for such an investigation. This was the first group to speak to its submission in person to the committee, something Mr Walker said would bring the personal element out.

"Having them there personally will show the Government what's happening practically through their decisions on the ground," he said. 

"I could pretty much drive that road from Lumsden to Te Anau with my eyes closed now, but unless you've been there, you don't actually have an understanding of the physical distances that mothers will have to travel, especially from places like Te Anau to Winton or Invercargill to give birth."