Hodgson argues against review of maternity services

Pete Hodgson

Health Minister Pete Hodgson says a review of maternity services would only delay improvements being made in the sector.

National Party health spokesman Tony Ryall today renewed his call for an independent audit of maternity services following a report of another baby's death being blamed on midwife care.

The parents of the child born at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital in an emergency caesarean operation were reportedly told midwives had misread a fetal heart rate monitor.

The child died seven hours after the caesarean.

The case follows criticism of health workers following reports on the deaths of three other babies -- two by a coroner and one by Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson.

The child's parents -- Heather and Alan Phillips -- are now calling for an inquiry into maternity and midwifery care.

Mr Ryall said the problem was not going to go away and Mr Hodgson needed to get the review started so problems could be fixed.

"Every month there are more frightening incidents coming to light, and more professional groups calling for change."

Mr Hodgson said a review of maternity services would delay improvements being developed by professionals.

"It would be easy for all involved -- including me -- to call for a review and take some of the political heat out of the maternity issue," he said.

"But while it would be easy it would also be counter-productive."

The Health Ministry was talking with professional bodies in maternity service including midwives, doctors and nurses focusing on improving services through better coordination between Leader Maternity Care and hospital services.

"The ministry and the maternity sector are taking this approach because they know action is needed now -- not after a drawn-out review process."

Mr Hodgson pointed out that National MP Paul Hutchison had previously been reported saying he did not think a review was necessary.

Dr Hutchison told NZPA that he agreed with Mr Ryall but wanted the Government to act on the 1999 maternity review which he said had been ignored.

"Due to the increasing concerns about maternity care I would agree with Tony that a full review is undertaken now -- but great note should be taken of that report from 1999."

The hospital involved in the latest case is waiting until the Accident Compensation Corporation has reported its decision before commenting.

The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported key failures in the baby's death were midwives' miss-reading of a fetal heart rate monitor and a fetal blood-acidity test was unnecessary in the circumstances and wasted time.

A hospital document described the events surrounding the birth and poor follow-up with the parents as a "multi-system failure".

Other recent controversies involving midwife care included the death of a baby in February 2001 after an undiagnosed breech birth at home, another undiagnosed breech birth incident in February 2003 and a baby who died in November 2003 after emergency caesarean and mismanaged labour at North Shore Hospital.

In Dunedin today a High Court jury was to be asked to decide whether midwife Jennifer Joan Crawshaw, 44, is guilty of the manslaughter of a first-pregnancy breech baby born on March 14, 2004.

Meanwhile NZ First MP Barbara Stewart said she knew of another death but had been asked not to publicise it.

She wanted to hear what solutions Mr Hodgson proposed and the latest case should ring alarm bells.

- NZPA