Good Health to reconsider Waiouru midwife withdrawal

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 521, 1 February 1994, Page 1

Good Health to reconsider Waiouru midwife withdrawal

Good Health Wanganui (GHW) is to reconsider its plans to axe the Waiouru community midwife position following a meeting with concerned citizens held last week. Those at the meeting were also reassured when told that Sue Hine, community co-ordinator for the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Health Authority, would be voicing Waiouru' s concerns in Wellington. Approximately 150 concerned residents attended the informal meeting held last Thursday in the Waiouru community hall. Several prominent community members also attended the meeting, including Ruapehu District Mayor Garrick Workman. GHW midwifery services manager Julie Foley opened the meeting by outlining the intended changes to the current system, these included: □ Removing Waiouru' s resident midwife entirely, □ Rostering a Taihape midwife to service the Waiouru community, and □ Reducing Taihape maternity staff from 4.8 to 3.5 full time midwives. She also said that the aim of GHW was to provide a safe and effective midwifery service, but that she could give no guarantees.

Concerns were expressed by members of the public at being cut off from services with the closure of State Highway 1 during the winter months. People said that GHW seemed to expect the military to cover any emergency situations arising from service inadequacies. Residents informed Mrs Foley of Waiouru' s reliance on the current midwife to fill the vital role of supporting new mothers during the absence of partners . They also said that most Waiouru mothers had no immediate family close by, and relied heavily on the current community midwife to provide 24 hour support and assurance. Many people expressed grave concern that, at the closure of the W aiouru maternity annexe in 1989, the area health board that closed the annexe guaranteed there would be no further cuts in services, and that a community based midwife would provide better care for the community. GHW believed that a midwife based in Taihape would be able to provide the same service as a Waiouru-based midwife. Waiouru residents voiced their doubt at this claim. A concerned member of the community, Grant Julius, asked why there was so much secrecy over the proposed changes, and at what stage GHW Turn To Page 2