KEY POINTS:
A new contract detailing the roles of lead maternity carers (LMC) and the hospitals they use has been released by the Ministry of Health.
The access agreement, as the contract is known, is the result of a review which began last August and included public consultation and recommendations made by the Health and Disability Commissioner.
The commissioner took part in the review after receiving a complaint about a case in 2003 which involved a midwife and a medical practitioner, where questions were raised over whether appropriate care was provided.
The basis of the complaint was that there was unreasonable delay in starting a Caesarean delivery once the decision had been made to perform it.
Pat Tuohy, the ministry's chief adviser of child and youth health, said New Zealand had a high quality maternity system with high standards of training, oversight of practice, and regulations.
When problems arose, however, all parties had to take a closer look at the rules and regulations to prevent them happening again.
This was how the spotlight had fallen on the LMC access agreement.
"Robust consultation" last year, resulting in the new deal, had ensured pregnant women continued to have access to a high quality maternity system, Dr Tuohy said.
- NZPA
