MEDIA RELEASE
NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
FROM: DrMark Peterson, NZMA Maternity spokesman
No evidence of widespread failure of maternity care -- NZMA
Publicity about the death of a baby during labour in Wellington is decreasing public confidence in the quality of
maternity care in New Zealand, says the New Zealand Medical Association.
“The death of this baby is extremely unfortunate but we need to resist apportioning blame before the circumstances are
fully investigated,” said NZMA maternity spokesman Dr Mark Peterson. “There is no evidence of widespread failure in the
quality of maternity care in New Zealand, whether provided by midwives, GP obstetricians or specialists”.
Sometimes even with the best of obstetric care unexpected events can occur. “Medical and midwifery professions need to
ensure that the professionals involved in maternity care are appropriately trained, and that systems are in place to
provide back-up where needed in these emergencies,” says Dr Peterson.
Where adverse events occur there are a number of review processes that should take place. All maternity units have
perinatal mortality review committees and District Health Board have Sentinel Events registers. In this latest case the
Minister of Health has also called for an external review. Until these processes are completed we should avoid further
comment on this current event.
The NZMA is working collaboratively with the NZ College of Midwives to ensure that New Zealand’s women have safe
maternity services.
“Quality maternity care requires collaboration of midwives/DHBs/general practice and obstetric specialists to ensure
that our mothers-to-be receive the safe services that they deserve in a modern health system. Services delivered
independently can have a tendency to undermine such aspirations.
“Primary maternity services, in particular, need to more closely integrated within the Primary Health Organisation
framework, so that mothers and their babies can receive the much desired seamless care from both midwives and doctors
that is essential to high quality outcomes,” Dr Peterson concluded.
ends