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not seek renewal of our contract, a decision which was rescinded after strong community feedback by the Waiau Health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.