Positive to see intention to support new mothers, but resourcing and implementation planning must follow.
In response to the of support for three day postnatal stays, three leading organisations in women’s health and maternity care, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM), and the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ), emphasise the need for the resourcing and planning required to safely implement the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3-Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill.
Our three organisations share a commitment to improving outcomes for mothers, babies, and whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand. We appreciate the Government’s recognition that the critical postnatal period requires enhanced support, and we acknowledge the positive intent behind this initiative to give women genuine choice about their postnatal care.
No women and baby should be sent home before they are ready. The system currently allows for this, but in reality, a highly strained maternity system does not always make it possible. There are already shortages of maternity beds, and the midwives and obstetricians required to care for women and their babies.
The risk is that if good intentions are not backed up by resources to deliver service, that there will be unintended consequences as resources are diverted to deliver three day stays for all.
– Dr Gillian Gibson, RANZCOG President
There is much to be considered in implementing the Bill to ensure it achieves its objectives without unintended consequences.
In a highly resource constrained environment, when decisions are no longer based on clinical need inequities in care are likely to increase.
– Alison Eddy, CE of the New Zealand College of Midwives
“We do not want to see a ‘postcode lottery’ determining who can access extended postnatal stays under the new legislation”, said Raewyn Stone, NCWNZ Health Action Hub Convenor. “We would like to see the Government invest in strengthening the maternity workforce as a matter of priority, to ensure that existing disparities are not worsened.”
The three-day postnatal stay can be a positive step forward, but only if it is properly resourced, thoughtfully implemented, and forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen maternity services across Aotearoa New Zealand. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand on implementation planning.
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Catherine Coooper
TV Executive Director Aotearoa New Zealand
Phone: +64 21 137 0748
Email: ccooper@ranzcog.org.nz
