Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:644;Page:13430] 
12.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Does he stand by his reported comments regarding the $100 “bribe” for Wellington mothers to leave hospital within hours of giving birth that this was “one organisation’s response to a staff shortage and was not Government policy.”; if so is he confident that the safety of mothers and children is a priority throughout the New Zealand public health system? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes; and yes. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: What immediate action will he take to prevent a repeat of the tragic death of the baby reported here in Wellington today—and all members of the House will have great sympathy for the parents—and does he now understand the consequences of hospitals bullying midwives and mothers to get out and go home within hours of giving birth? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: May I first say that I share the member’s deep sense of sorrow at this recent tragedy. There is no sufficient answer for any parent who has lost a child and I think all members’ hearts go out to this family and any others who have been in a similar circumstance. The Government takes this situation and any like it very very seriously. We expect district health boards around the country to take it similarly seriously. By saying that the previous policy of Capital and Coast District Health Board was not Government policy I think we have made very clear the Government’s expectations and that it was not appropriate. Having said that this case did not reflect that policy for several reasons. Firstly this mother would not have been covered because she was a first-time mother and that policy applied only to second and subsequent births. Secondly there was no bed shortage in the case of this birth and there is no evidence that I have seen that to quote the member the mother was “bullied” out of hospital. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: What indications are there of the Government’s concern with the safety of mothers and children? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: Perhaps the most telling indicator of the Government’s concern and effective action on it is that the infant mortality rate has declined from 7.1 deaths per 1000 births in 1997 to 4.8 deaths per 1000 in 2006. That is a 33 percent reduction. Additionally of course the Government has undertaken the MeNZB mass immunisation campaign which has lowered the number of cases of new meningococcal B meningitis by 57 percent. However I repeat that any infant death is a tragedy and despite this progress we will relentlessly pursue further improvements. Our heart goes out to any family who suffers this kind of loss. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Will he be approaching the country’s 3000 general practitioners to find out how many of them would be willing to resume providing maternity services in order to alleviate the ongoing midwife shortage and provide a safer service; if not why not? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: I have received a copy of some reporting on the nationwide workforce priority accorded to the midwifery sector. I am certainly willing to work constructively with the member and others to look at all options to address the shortfalls and I encourage district health boards to do the same. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. Kia ora tatou. Is the Minister aware that last weekend a woman went into the Capital and Coast District Health Board delivery suite to have her sixth child and was told that she had to go home even though she did not want to and what action will he be taking with that district health board to address its deliberate refusal to comply with his statement last week that “no woman who needs to be in hospital after giving birth will be sent home.”? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: In the first case if a member wishes to discuss an individual case or to seek information on it it is always helpful either to get the name in advance or for it to be done in a primary question. Notwithstanding that I understand that the district health board has had conversations with the Ministry of Health that would underline the point that no mother who is in need of care in hospital should be discharged and that no baby who is in need of care should be so discharged. I understand that the chief executive reaffirmed that position in recent days. Notwithstanding that I remain very concerned and increasingly concerned at the situation at Capital and Coast District Health Board. I have recently issued a statement clarifying that I am seeking urgent advice on the options available to me and a further announcement will be made shortly. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What will he introduce to respond to the fact that the number of annual practising certificates issued to midwives has decreased significantly from 4914 in 2002-03 to 2857 in 2005-06 and what does he believe has caused such a severe decrease in midwives? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: It would not be appropriate for me to try to diagnose the problems of the midwifery sector. I do note that the District Health Boards New Zealand organisation has listed that sector as one of its top two workforce priorities and that it is receiving the full support of the Ministry of Health in addressing a strategy for ensuring we have sufficient midwifery care around New Zealand. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What will this Government be doing to address the training and retention of midwives in the sector? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: As I have just said the Government will be working closely with District Health Boards New Zealand around a strategy for ensuring that shortages are filled. It is very important that mothers and children around New Zealand get the care they deserve. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Has the Minister seen reports that the Maternity Service Consumer Council says that district health board managers up and down the country are bullying—its word—midwives to get new mothers out of hospital quicker and quicker; and should not New Zealand mothers be entitled to more? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: It is always ironic when a member from a party that has long championed unaffordable tax cuts becomes the champion of more social services because it is exactly those kinds of trade-offs that this Government since it became elected in 1999 has stood to address. That is why there are 33 percent fewer dead babies under this Government than when that member’s party was in Government. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Will the Minister meet with the Maternity Service Consumer Council which has said that this sort of thing is happening up and down the country as we speak and that other hospitals are sitting on time bombs like this; and will he meet to discuss with the Maternity Service Consumer Council the fact that the council says that midwives around this country are being bullied to discharge mothers home earlier and earlier and that that is not safe for New Zealand mothers? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: I fully respect the member’s efforts to stand up for vulnerable mothers and I share his concern for those mothers. But the fact is that under this Government our infant mortality rate is one-third less than it was when that member’s party was in power. Of course discussions will continue with District Health Boards New Zealand to ensure that Government policy is given effect to and we will relentlessly pursue opportunities for improvement in this sector.