Consumers Find High Maternity Death Rates Unacceptable

Press Release www aim.org.nz 28-7-11

Consumers Find High Maternity Death Rates Unacceptable

The maternity consumer advocacy network AIM (Action to Improve Maternity) finds the newly released figures from the PMMRC (Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee) unacceptable. The rate of deaths for new mother and babies remains high.

These 2009 deaths represent hundreds of needlessly shattered families and communities. One-third of these maternal deaths are avoidable, and this report shows almost 100 baby deaths were too. We believe that even one preventable death or needless injury to a mother or baby is one too many.

A report released last week from the United Nations stated that for 2008 ‘… at 14 deaths per 100,000, New Zealand also had one of the highest levels of maternal mortality within the OECD’. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5332717/NZ-worst-for-domestic-violence-UN-report)

In 2007 we were ahead of only Turkey and Mexico for our maternal mortality rate in the OECD – NZ ranked 32nd out of 34 countries.

The expert recommendations of the PMMRC, RANZCOG, NZCOM, coroners and more recently the Health Select Committee, demanding an independent perinatal database, continue to be ignored, yet the need for one has never been clearer. Without it, we will continue to throw money at an unseen target.

The figures released today by the PMMRC show the highest maternal death rates in the years since data collection by the PMMRC began. New Zealand mothers and babies deserve the safest possible system and these figures indicate that we are not making progress towards this goal.

In 2009 the AIM network petitioned the government, including advice on several low or no cost changes which would instantly make safety and quality improvements in the current maternity system. Also included on the website of the network are the stories of many of the network families who have suffered loss and/or needless injury to their children.

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