11. Question No. 11—HealthBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Associate Minister of HealthQuestion No. 11—Health11. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Associate Minister of Health: Does she stand by her statement We must ensure maternity services and care better meet the needs of women and whānau and achieve equitable outcomes for women pēpi and whānau"?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Associate Minister of Health): Yes. I can assure you that safe equitable and sustainable maternity services are a priority for this Government and I view this work as a key part of the health portfolio. A wide body of evidence tells us that the first thousand days from conception are particularly crucial for the health development and wellbeing of a child. Healthy pregnancy is an action in the Government's programme of action that supports the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. In July 2020 the Government announced funding that brought the total new investment in maternity services to $242 million over four years. This includes the following programmes of work: a $180 million maternity package comprised of $85 million for additional modules under the primary maternity services notice; $60 million allocated to support community maternity initiatives arising from any accepted recommendations of the health and disability system review; $35 million for the maternity action plan; $57 million over four years for cost and volume pressures in the notice; and $5.4 million to cover extra costs incurred by midwives related to COVID-19 including a $2500 payment for lead maternity carers midwives and funding towards locum arrangements for COVID-19 - related leave. A further $8.056 million was also approved in the Budget for the cost and volume pressures in the notice including $5 million for the Lead Maternity Care business contribution payment.Brooke van Velden: Does she believe it is important that women who give birth have the support they need from their partner family and chosen support person?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Yes when it is safe.Brooke van Velden: Does she believe that restricting the ability for women who have given birth in hospitals at alert level 4 to have support persons with them ensures maternity care meets the needs of women and their whānau?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Thank you for that question. I think it's a very important question and one which we need to work through carefully. A year ago before I became an MP I was a doctor in a tertiary hospital an infectious diseases specialist having to make the decisions around granting exemptions to hospital visitor policies. I think the systems we have in place have to ensure that the women using the maternity unit can safely give birth with minimised threat of COVID-19 but also where an assessment is done on the specific circumstances there are possibilities created where it is safe for people to be with their family at that time.Brooke van Velden: Is she concerned about reports that women are choosing to leave hospital early against medical advice because their support person must leave the hospital within an hour of them giving birth?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Those reports have not been raised with me but as I said earlier I would hope that an assessment of safety is made in every individual case and where safe and possible within the resources available an enabling approach is taken to having family present.Brooke van Velden: Has she advocated for allowances to be made for pregnant women or their partners to be provided emergency managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) spaces to return to New Zealand and if not why not?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I frequently advocate on behalf of women in my role as a Cabinet Minister. In these situations I take into account women's health needs to have support during the important time of giving birth but also that the conditions in which women give birth have to be safe and that is a function of our MIQ system.Brooke van Velden: Does she think it is acceptable that pregnant New Zealand women are being forced to take the Government to court to get the maternity care and support that they need?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I am not aware of a proceeding for maternity care that is before the court. If the member is referring to a proceeding relating to the MIQ system then that is a different matter that is before the courts at the moment."