Why Taupo babies are being born in Rotorua

TAUPO HOSPITAL: The Lakes District Health Board says it's likely some community perceptions about the Taupo maternity facility are driven by the environment of the previous facility. PHOTO/FILE

Mums reassured after 200 Taupo women give birth in Rotorua in six-month period

ALMOST 200 Taupo women have given birth in Rotorua Hospital in six months - partly driven by a perception the birthing unit at Taupo isn't safe after the deaths of two babies because of "birthing complications".

In that same time, 43 women have been transferred from Taupo to Rotorua Hospital during labour, or shortly afterwards, because they needed specialist care that isn't available in the primary-level Taupo unit.

Now, the Lakes District Health Board is moving to try to reassure families that Taupo Maternity is a safe birthing environment after the 2013 deaths.

Woman, child and family service manager Donna Mayes said there had been a trend upwards in the number of Taupo women needing to deliver their babies at Rotorua Hospital over the past few years.

She said the reasons were "complex" and included women who had previously had to give birth in Rotorua opting to do it again rather than risking transferring from Taupo while in labour, newer lead maternity carers who erred on the side of caution "which is very appropriate" and women in the Lakes district generally being less healthy, which meant a greater need for monitoring by specialists.

In the six months from July to December, 43 women were transferred to Rotorua Hospital while in labour or shortly afterwards.

There were 186 births by Taupo women in Rotorua during that time, and just 73 births at Taupo Maternity.

Ms Mayes said the two deaths were not statistically unusual if looked at over a 10-year period.

She said both incidents had been fully reviewed and there were "some learnings", which included improved support for Taupo staff dealing with emergencies in the future.

The deaths proved to be illustrations of the risks still involved in pregnancy and birth regardless of all the skill, expertise and equipment available in the 21st century, she said.

"In a small community like Taupo, the impact of the incidents is large."

She said the emotional side of such events always had a lasting effect on the families and their friends and communities, and on the staff concerned, especially when two incidents happened close together.

"The DHB management team has been aware of this issue for this small community and has been directing particular support to the staff in Taupo to assist them to regain their confidence since their involvement with the two incidents."

Ms Mayes said the DHB was confident in the maternity system and committed to the value of primary birthing units such as Taupo because the majority of women in the district had an "entirely normal birth".

"The fact that some sad incidents have occurred there does not mean that the service was unsafe - statistically such incidents are inevitably going to occur at some time."

She said the Taupo unit had always remained safe according to accepted standards at audit.

Ms Mayes said a perception held by some that Taupo maternity was not safe was driven by a variety of issues, not all Taupo-specific.

Several maternity incidents had happened around New Zealand which raised women's concerns about the safest place to birth.

"It is likely that some community perceptions about the Taupo maternity facility are driven by the environment of the previous facility.

"That birthing unit was quite old and somewhat jaded and this can unfortunately send a subliminal message that the service is not an 'important' one and can help colour people's perceptions of the service, regardless of the level of skill and expertise of the staff."

A new maternity unit, which is joined to the main part of the hospital, has now been opened as part of the Taupo Hospital redevelopment.

Ms Mayes said the Taupo community midwives had a very responsible approach to management of primary maternity women and used the referral guidelines appropriately and effectively.

"Taupo lead maternity carers carry a big responsibility in terms of recognising when a patient needs additional care from secondary services in Rotorua."