Concern at loss of Waiouru midwife

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 520, 25 January 1994, Page 1

Concern at loss of Waiouru midwife

Concerns about the future of Waiouru's maternity services are the focus of a meeting to be held on 27 January at the Waiouru Community Centre. The town's present midwife, Libby Tuthill, is moving to Raetihi and it is understood that she won't be replaced, although this has not been publicly confirmed by Good Health Wanganui. A concemed resident, Sue Harrison, said the number of women of child-bearing age in Waiouru has increased since the Maternity Annexe closed in 1 989, not decreased. At that time the then area health board promised that the midwife would remain. She said with the transfer of 16 Field Regiment last year and the increases in units such as the Armoured Corps, the number of young couples in the town has increased dramatically. Last year there were 120 births to Waiouru mothers. Also of concem was the news that the number of midwives in Taihape Hospital was to be reduced to two or three full-time, leaving Waiouru women wondering how they could cope with Taihape' s case loads let alone Waiouru as well. Added to that was the concem that the Waimarino Turn to Page 2

Waiouru midwife service concerns

From Page 1 mafernity annexe was moving more towards a birthing unit system. Mrs Harrison points out that it is a statutory right for women to have home calls for the first 14 days they were home, from a local midwife, but asks how this could happen in future. Julie Foley, manager of midwifery services, Good Health Wanganui, is expected to attend the meeting. Also invited were Dennis Marshall, MP for Waiouru, and the manager of the Wellington Regional Health Authority.