Whanganui and Palmerston North must keep women’s health services
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is concerned that a proposal to shut down specialist maternity services in
Whanganui and move them to Palmerston North will be a disaster for women, babies and their whanau who live in the area.
The proposal also plans to move elective gynaecology services from Palmerston North to Whanganui.
Whanganui Hospital’s maternity and gynaecology services currently cater to a population of around 65 000 people. Over
800 women a year use the services every year.
NZNO professional nursing advisor Cathy Gilmore says, “The risks for mothers and babies are very worrying. Although the
proposal suggests that a “basic” primary maternity service remain in Whanganui it does not address situations where
women need urgent medical care during their labour. There are skilled midwives in Whanganui who can manage this type of
situation but that is of no use if they don’t have the right technology and equipment at the hospital. The time it takes
to transport a patient to Palmerston North will mean the difference between life and death in some situations.”
“This proposal to “regionalise” health services for women is short-sighted. It would disproportionately affect Maori,
rural families and those on low incomes, particularly from the Whanganui region. One has to wonder whether the simpler
solution would be to have all the medical staff work across both sites,” Gilmore says.
NZNO organiser Donna Ryan is worried about the impact on nursing and midwifery staff in both regions if specialist
maternity services are moved, “One issue is that Palmerston North hospital has no extra birthing rooms and only three
extra ante-natal beds planned if the changes go ahead. Staff will be overworked and under-resourced. It is hard to see
how the proposed changes will benefit the people of either area.”
“Any city with a population of 65 000 needs specialist maternity and gynaecology services. It is imperative that women
can access the health services they need where and when they need them,” Ryan says.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is the leading professional body of nurses and nursing union in Aotearoa New
Zealand, representing over 45 000 nurses and health workers. Te Runanga o Aotearoa is the arm through which our Te
Tiriti o Waitangi partnership is articulated. Our members include nurses, midwives, students, kaimahi hauora, health
care workers and allied health professionals.
The NZNO vision is “Freed to care, Proud to nurse”. Our members enhance the health and wellbeing of all people of
Aotearoa New Zealand and are united in their professional and industrial aspirations.
ENDS