The Southern District Health Board says the decision to downgrade the Lumsden Maternity Centre was appropriate, despite another damning report being released. READ MORE:* Independent report critical of SDHB's decision to close Lumsden Maternity Centre* SDHB will not reopen the Lumsden Maternity Centre, despite MP saying funding available* MP alleges decision to downgrade maternity centre was 'predetermined'* SDHB's set up of rural maternity services slammed in reviews"...we do not know whether this obvious short coming of the review was of the reviewers making or the instructions of Northern Southland Medical Trust who clearly commissioned the review. Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter said previous reports had raised similar concerns about the changes in maternity services in Southern DHB. "I have met with the DHB and we discussed the plan for quality improvements and rebuilding trust in maternity services." The Lumsden Maternity Centre was run by the Northern Southland Medical Trust before it was downgraded from a primary birthing unit to a maternal and child hub last year.

Source: Stuff January 23, 2020 05:37 UTC