Maternity unit closure is unnecessary, say doctors

The closure of the Dargaville Maternity Unit this month could have been avoided if GPs were still involved in obstetric care, doctors say.

Women in the area wanting a hospital birth must now travel to Whangarei Hospital.

However, Royal New Zealand College of GPs maternity spokesman William Ferguson said a funding formula introduced seven years ago had gradually pushed GPs out of obstetrics because it did not cover costs.

"The Ministry of Health has refused to accept international research showing repeatedly that approximately 8 per cent of low-risk pregnancies will have an unexpected complication that could be life-threatening for either mother or baby," he said.

"Closing the unit and making low-risk women travel long distances to have their babies has also been shown to increase perinatal mortality, morbidity and secondary care costs, especially in neonatal intensive care."

Dr Ferguson said GPs had fought unsuccessfully for seven years with the Health Ministry to recognise the importance of maintaining a role for GPs in managing such emergencies, especially in rural areas.

"Dargaville is merely representative for the whole rural sector in which there are many rural GPs with considerable obstetric training and experience, who continue in general practice but have been forced out of providing maternity care by the ridiculous machinations of the Section 88 maternity notice."

The Kaipara Community Health Trust agrees, saying the existing situation is a "systems failure" stemming from the inception of Section 88.

"Under the current legislation, rural mothers and families are being further marginalised and disadvantaged," trust chairwoman Bev Sharpe said.

According to the Health Ministry, the objectives of the Section 88 maternity notice were to "provide continuity of care in pregnancy and to ensure all practitioners offering maternity care were paid appropriately".


- NZPA