Emotions run high on maternity case plan | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

An emotion-charged meeting of the Whanganui District Health Board's committee members yesterday hammered out agreement over the possible future of the city's maternity services.

The meeting, before a packed gallery, was the first the board and committee members have had to publicly discuss a contentious proposal to move at-risk maternity cases to Palmerston North.

After nearly three hours of robust debate the meeting decided that it wanted more information about the current and future risk to Wanganui Hospital's maternity service, as well as further investigation into other options to maintain a full service.

The start of the meeting was given over to members of the public who wanted to speak, and several did.

They talked of concern in the community about losing a service, while mother Polli Minnell spoke of being treated "coldly and as an inconvenience" to Palmerston North Hospital staff.

In tears, she told the board that it had to "stop the bean-counters and just see us. We are people who deserve a better start".

Wanganui District councillor Hamish McDouall said losing a first-rate maternity service would mean the city would not be able to attract young families to the region.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said the significant issue was that the majority of those who could be transferred were the ones most at risk.

"The board has had a long time to address these issues.

"How hard are we really working to get the proper people in place here?" Mrs Turia asked.

She said she was not convinced the board had done enough to get the specialised staff the hospital needed, especially in women's health services.

Board and committee members took part in a lengthy debate which talked up the fear of never being able to replace a service if it was lost.

Julie Patterson, board chief executive, said the joint Whanganui and MidCentral DHB proposal aimed to achieve a service that was safe and provided excellent support.

"This is not about money but the probability of our obstetrics and gynaecology service collapsing is very high,'' Mrs Patterson said.

She said a fragile service here put pressure on Palmerston North if a plan was not in place.

"There may be better ways of doing this and we're committed to listening to everyone,'' she said.

Mark Stegmann, an O&G  consultant at Wanganui Hospital, helped prepare the proposal. He said over about 12 years the service had been constantly in the spotlight.

"This is not about taking services away from Wanganui but strengthening the service we can provide for them,'' Mr Stegmann said.

Board member Michael Laws said he was concerned there was "more than a whiff of fait accompli about this proposal''.

Board chairwoman Kate Joblin said the weakness in the maternity services had dogged the hospital for years.

"Come May, we won't have the O&G services at Wanganui Hospital,'' she said.

Judith MacDonald, another on the board, said the community wanted consultation because people needed support.

"There's a wider economic impact for our region. I want to know what level of risk there is and how much haste we need to overcome that.''

Mr Stegmann said this crisis had been "bubbling along'' for years and that while the staff had managed to "block some of the holes, that is not the safe way''.

"If there are alternatives, we'd be delighted to hear them,'' he said.

But Mr Laws hammered the lack of detail in part of the proposal, saying there was nothing in it to how why Wanganui women were at more risk than other parts of the country.

Board member Nancy Tuaine said her concern was what support families of those travelling to Palmerston North would receive.

"And I want to be sure travel and accommodation are taken care of through an adequate national travel policy.'' 

Mrs Patterson said crises had been met before but, at the moment, there was no contingency plan and that put "tremendous'' pressure on mothers, babies, their families and staff.

Ray Stevens, another of those on the board and the district council, said the board needed to get alongside the council and work up a package.

"It gives us another tool in the toolbox and means we can add value to the recruitment package,'' Mr Stevens said.

Committee member Dr Alan Mangan said he supported the proposal "because it's about safety''.

"I don't necessarily think maternity is critical to Wanganui's survival but provision of a good, safe service is what this provides.''

He said the travel issue was another concern given the social demographic of the community.

Board member Richard Orzecki said the proposal was about addressing risk. Parents would go anywhere to have their babies but travel and accommodation for them was the big question.

Mr Laws successfully moved a recommendation that asked for more information before the paper comes back to the board at its full meeting on Friday.