Today the first 5,600 signatures were sent to decision makers as to ensure they are aware of this petition. I felt this was good timing as the Health Select Committee is due to have a 30 minute discussion on Lumsden at 11am tomorrow (Wednesday)https://www.facebook.com/hescnz/
Hope you saw the great 7 Sharp segment earlier tonight too.
Please continue to sign and share and write letters to the decision makers.
Jacinda Ardern: Jacinda.Ardern@parliament.govt.nz
Dr. David Clark: david.clark@parliament.govt.nz
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Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern
Dr. David Clark
Liz Craig
CEO Chris Flemming SDHB
Greetings from the 5,600+ supporters of Save Lumsden Maternity Centre - Reverse the Downgrade!
We call upon you to reverse the decision to close Lumsden and reopen this essential facility as a Primary Maternity Facility immediately.
There has been a complete failure by the SDHB to carry out an exercise in consultation prior to the decision to close Lumsden Maternity Centre being announced. The media release was the first sign of this intention any interested parties, including midwives and doctors had heard of this plan. Indeed, SDHB did not consult with Ngai Tahu so I would like to see a comprehensive review of WHO they did consult with.
In a letter dated 22 June 2018, Dr. David Clark, Minister of Health states: "the Maternity plan was originally planned for release in March 2018" - so even though there was a "feedback" period offered, this was not a genuine exercise.
The SDHB get extra funding through a "Rural Payment" that is meant to support the provision of rural services such as Maternity at remote locations such as Lumsden. SDHB take approx. 18% of the funding pool in NZ. However the government has not ring fenced any of this money to rural communities and so once in SDHB budget, it currently is spent how they wish. Government must ring fence this contribution for RURAL HEALTH including the provision of adequate Maternity facilities - "satisfactory" is not good enough!
A birth at or near The Lumsden "hub" should be rare. At the time of writing, a calendar month has not yet passed since the first birth roadside in an Ambulance on the 26th of May.
The frequency that births are occurring at Lumsden is irrefutable evidence that Lumsden is an essential resource in the maternity network and must be reopened immediately.
The Northern Southland Community says that the current situation is not ok. The emergency arrival of 3 different babies in less than satisfactory circumstances in the same location proves beyond doubt that the predecessors to the SDHB were correct in that, although there may be a lower birth rate, the sitting of the maternity centre at Lumsden provided a crucial layer of safety for all mothers and babies and their whanau and medical practitioners in the region.
Please find attached a copy of this petition