SDHB Closure of Tuatapere Maternity
SDHB Closure of Tuatapere Maternity
THE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD ARE EFFECTIVLEY CLOSING
TUATAPERE MATERNITY BY REFUSING THE WAIAU HEALTH TRUST
LTD’S REQUEST TO EXTEND THEIR CONTRACT TO ENABLE THEM TO
EXPLORE MORE VIABLE MODELS OF CARE AND PULLING ALL FUNDING
FOR INPATIENT SERVICES.
The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) are shirking their responsibility to our rural community and setting precedence for cost cutting of essential services women are entitled to nationwide. Their decision to pull funding from Tuatapere Maternity, the primary facility that serves the rural women of Tuatapere, and surrounding area leaves some of the most vulnerable populations at greater risks of tragic outcomes and proves their strategic plan of; “closer sooner, better and more convenient care” a load of rubbish. Tuatapere Maternity represents what the Ministry of Health is touting as their ideal of “integrated services” and yet the Southern District Health Board has deemed our centre non-viable without defining what would be considered viable. The SDHB have not granted a requested extension for the current contract, therefore the community has not been given due process for presenting alternative models to address the SDHB’s concerns regarding viability. The Southern District Health Board persists on tactics of shifting the blame to the Waiau Health Trust Ltd. (WHT) after scare-mongering our directors of the Waiau Health Trust Ltd into a decision to not seek renewal of our contract, a decision which was rescinded after strong community feedback by the Waiau Health Trust Ltd.’s sole share holder the Tuatapere Community Medical Services Trust. The decision to re-enter negotiations was made well within the acceptable time frame for contract renewal.
At the time of the original
decision the SDHB proposed to assist the community in moving
forward with a plan for the future and providing a public
spokesperson, which never materialized. Repeated attempts
by community members and WHT to explore ways of continuing
in patient services to the community have been ignored by
the SDHB. Their responses to community members have been
misleading and fail in its purported responsibility for the
provision of health services in our community. Examples of
their deception include responses stating increased funding
was given to our district health service when the fact is
that this funding is completely separate to maternity
funding, not being accountable for funding that was given by
the Ministry of Health for provision of primary postnatal
services and most recently the quote by Robert Mackway-Jones
that “We remain committed to having primary maternity
services in Tuatapere and support a sustainable model of
care for the district.” When the reality is that they have
not been willing to consider any models proposed. We believe
the SDHB have not acted in good faith and we foresee the
loss of our centre in line with a pattern of behaviour which
will ultimately speak to a nationwide whittling away of
basic services all community’s are entitled to. The
Tuatapere Maternity Action Group has come together to answer
the cry of families in our community and will be holding a
Public Meeting Monday March 12, 2012 at 7:30 PM at the
Tuatapere Town and Country Club inviting key stakeholders,
MPs, Community representatives and all of the Southland
public to have their voices heard.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND
THE PUBLIC OF NEW ZEALAND TO STAND TOGETHER AS ONE AND SEND
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT
THEIR ACTIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!
NOT
ONLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT FOR THE WHOLE OF NEW ZEALAND –
DON’T LET THEM SET A PRECEDENT FOR COST CUTTING OF THE
ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE
ENTITLED TO NATIONWIDE
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Below is a list of things you can do to help save Tuatapere Maternity please consider doing all of the things mentioned below if you are able.
1. SPREAD THE WORD
Please forward this email to everyone in your
contact list and spread the word via txt, Facebook and other
social media sites, word of mouth or any other means
available to you – we need this to go viral!
2. ATTEND THE PUBLIC MEETING – 7:30PM
MONDAY 12/03/12 AT THE WAIAU TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB,
TUATAPERE
This is of huge importance. We need
every man women and child there to show the SDHB we are
united, we do not accept your actions, and we will have our
voices heard.
3. WRITE A LETTER
We want to be able to hand to the SDHB a huge
pile of letters in support of the Inpatient Services in
Tuatapere remaining and the SDHB funding these services, so
write down your thoughts, opinions concerns or experiences
and bring it along to the Meeting on Monday night or
alternatively email it to lugger.lou@xtra.co.nz if you will not be
able to attend the meeting. If you are really in the letter
writing mood please write one to the local MP’s, Ministry
of Health, Newspaper etc.
4. SIGN OUR
PETITION
Click on the link below and sign the
petition – It will only take you a minute.
http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/retain-southern-district-health-board-funding-for-the-inpatient-services-of-labour-birth-and-post-natal-care-at-tuatapere-maternity/1474