Public to get say on maternity services

It's been a tortuous journey, marked with heated exchanges, but yesterday the Whanganui District Health Board took a major step forward in resolving the future of maternity services at Wanganui Hospital.

The board voted unanimously to open the proposal up to a formal public submission process, taking it beyond the public consultation that had been suggested.

But importantly, for those on the board adamantly opposed to any downgrading of the city's maternity services from its current secondary status, it has bought more time to debate the proposal.

The board is now expected to make its final decision on a regional women's health service, involving both Wanganui and Palmerston North hospitals, on May 25.

A joint review of services by clinicians and management from Whanganui and MidCentral DHBs had flagged a crisis at Wanganui and proposed transferring some mothers to give birth at Palmerston North Hospital.

Yesterday's meeting was the third in as many weeks to discuss the contentious plan and at one stage included moves to push through a vote of no confidence in both board chair Kate Joblin and chief executive officer Julie Patterson.

The motion was moved by Clive Solomon and seconded by Michael Laws but later Mr Solomon deferred his move because the board had made significant progress with the main issue - the women's health services.

The idea of a formal submission process was pushed by Ray Stevens, who said there was concern that the existing timelines suggested a decision on the future make-up of maternity services had already been made.

Mr Stevens said he was concerned about the consultation process, which talked about meeting key community stakeholders.

He was assured by Mrs Joblin that more comprehensive public meetings would be held.

Mr Laws said formalising the process would give the board a much wider scope of public input, with both oral and written submissions being heard by the full board.

He said only after considering those submissions would the board make its decision on the future of the service. The current proposal from management could see up to half of Wanganui births being transferred to Palmerston North.

Dr David Warburton said it must be a board prerogative because it was a policy issue that was fundamental to the community.

Deputy chairman Phil Sunderland said he had no problem with more consultation but he was concerned that he was also hearing from clinicians that the service was under threat "sooner rather than later" and that drawing out consultation might compromise that service.

Mrs Patterson said Wanganui Hospital would reach a critical time in May when locum cover for the maternity services would run out and it would take time to shore that up again.

She said every time the board delayed its decision "it makes it more difficult".

The board also agreed that its current maternity service policy - which guarantees 24/7 obstetrics and gynaecology coverage at Wanganui Hospital - would remain at least until it has gone through the full community consultation and submissions process.

Dr Warburton said the management team had laid out all the facts and options and it was important the board recognised that when it comes time to consultation "the loudest noise doesn't necessarily have the best reason".

He said it was vital the women's health service proposal in front of the board was subjected to a peer review as part of that process.