Photo: RNZ / Ashleigh McCaull
Two Eastern Bay mayors have spoken out about their disappointment at a downgrade of Whakatāne Hospital's gynaecology and obstetrics department, calling it unacceptable and a sign of a deeper problem.
The change will see pregnant women requiring specialist care, caesareans or emergency procedures having to travel to Tauranga from mid-January. Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora announced on Wednesday after the news was leaked on social media that the temporary change was for 12 months or more.
The Whakatāne maternity ward would be downgraded to a primary birthing service, meaning only women with low-risk pregnancies can give birth under the care of their midwifes.
Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore said he had made his disappointment known to the relevant authorities.
"It's not ideal. Our mothers and babies are our most vulnerable. Babies come when they are ready, not following anyone else's schedule so the time delay is just not acceptable."
"It's a good three hours for some of our people to get to Tauranga - if you can get through the traffic."
He said people having to learn about through social media was also unacceptable.
"I had a heads up from some midwives and it was the first I'd heard of it. I've made contact with out local MP and I think it was news to her as well. She's been working hard on the issue since. I've made my disappointment known with her. I'm not sure that even the health minister would have known."
Ōpōtiki Mayor David Moore. Photo: Supplied
He has since been told a meeting was being organised to provide mayors with explanation of what had happened.
Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca said the change would be "devastating" for many people in the community.
"There's a risk issue. If it turns out your pregnancy is not working out well and you have to get in an ambulance and head to Tauranga, that's problematic.
"I'm not quite sure if this is a temporary thing or if there's a hidden agenda to cut services."
He said he would like to see Whakatāne Hospital better equipped and resourced.
"We've got a hospital that this community has fought hard to keep. It employs 800 people and it serves a very big area."
He said it was not the first downgrade of services the hospital had suffered and would likely not be the last.
"There was the pathology laboratory, which got privatised, consolidated and I guess you could call it downgraded. We do all the blood work here but all the microbiology ends up in Tauranga because they've got to feed that lab.
Before the news about the Whakatāne Hospital obstetrics downgrade came out this week Dr Luca had already been in the process of organising a virtual conference to try to find solutions to health issues in this country.
He accused the government of applying "the same neoliberal economic approaches that got us to where we are".
I think we've got to look at the root causes of problems. That's really why I'm organising this virtual conference.
"We've got some of the best and brightest in the country participating. We've got to start off small but I hope to widen it to an in person conference in the future.
Included in the programme will be economists Professor Steve Keen and Dr Ganesh Nana, who will address the fundamental question of financing the system.
Luca said he had invited all 68 New Zealand mayors although only a handful had shown an interest in taking part.
"We expect to invite all of Grey Power that are advocating in this space and also the general public. We have yet to lock in a date but are hoping for early in 2025."
Luca said he was shocked at the state of New Zealand's heath system on returning home after many years living overseas.
"It wasn't as public as I thought it was. It is actually class-based, because if you have the money to get private insurance you get prompt and premium service.
"What I don't want to end up with is a situation like you have in the United States where 550,000 people last year were forced into bankruptcy because they had a health issue.
"That's the other end of the spectrum and that, I'm afraid, is the direction of travel. This [downgrade] is a classic example."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
