Three-day hospital stay bill will result in unintended consequences, NZ College of Midwives says
Photo:
The New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) says if the new three-day-stay bill is brought into New Zealand's current healthcare system, it will result in unintended consequences.
The
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3 Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill
proposes the 48 hours of funded inpatient post-natal care currently available, be upped to 72 hours.
NZCOM chief executive Alison Eddy said in the
organisation's oral submission
- heard by parliaments health committee - it did not support the bill.
"Midwifery strongly advocates for all women and their whānau to have access to the health services they need in the post-natal period. And we consider that no woman should be discharged from hospital after giving birth, before she is ready to do so," she said.
"In spite of this, we do not support
the proposed bill
for three reasons."
Eddy said the organisations first reason for opposing the bill was that the
system did not have capacity
.
"We have a significant shortage of midwives, and the place that this shortage manifests the greatest in our hospital system is in the post-natal area.
"Our post-natal areas are busy and under-staffed, our system is overloaded, our hospital bed capacity is insufficient to universally accommodate a three day stay for every women - whether she needs it or not."
Eddy said bed grid-lock was a common issue in the post-natal area, and if the bill passed, that issue would get worse.
"There are no beds in the post-natal area for women to move to after they have given birth, and no space will become available until someone is discharged.
"This creates bed-block in the labour ward, which then leads to delays in necessary care."
She said the increased stay would create
more pressure on the services and staff
.
New Zealand College of Midwives chief executive Alison Eddy.
Photo:
Stuff / John Kirk-Anderson
Eddy said her second point - on behalf of NZCOM - was return on investment.
"There is a misconception that extra time in hospital will automatically result in positive outcomes," she said, clarifying it was often not the case.
"The post-natal period extends to six weeks after birth and consists of many, many aspects of health and social care, and cultural and emotional support."
She said "patient stays are costly" and "investment in the post-natal period could be better placed elsewhere".
The third point Eddy made on behalf of NZCOM was the possible unintended consequences.
"Introducing legislation which provides everyone with the entitlement of a three day post-natal stay - whether it is clinically needed or not - into a system which has inadequate capacity, will result in unintended consequences."
She said the solution was not to legislate a three night stay for every women, but rather ensure those who needed a longer stay were able to access the care needed.
Labour MP Ayesha Verrall.
Photo:
VNP/Louis Collins
When asked by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall whether the bill would help women, hurt women or make no difference, Eddy said it depended on the individual circumstance.
"There is potential for all of those scenarios, but I would think the potential risks of hurt would outweigh the potential benefits…"
Catherine Wedd - the National MP who brought the bill to parliament - said she was disappointed the NZCOM did not support the bill.
"I could not see how it could hurt women, but I'm interested to see how you see it could hurt women," she said.
National MP Catherine Wedd.
Photo:
RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Eddy responded, further explaining how women could be hurt by the bill using the "real" example of bed block.
"Inductions of labour, for example, they require a bed, they require midwifery staffing, and they require resource.
"If there are no beds in the labour ward, because a woman is waiting to be transferred up to the post-natal ward… her induction of labour will be delayed.
"That could cause unintended consequence and potential harm," she said.
Both Wedd and NZCOM have been approached for further comment.
The bill is due to be reported back in parliament on 17 June.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
New Zealand Psychological Society Raises Major Concerns Over Proposed Pae Ora Changes
The New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS), the largest professional body representing psychologists in Aotearoa, is deeply concerned about the proposed amendments to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act, recently announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown. 'These changes represent a significant regression in the delivery of equitable, culturally responsive healthcare,' said Dr Rebecca Wirihana (President, NZPsS) 'They undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are utterly lacking the robust consultative process He Pae Ora was developed to provide - stripping away protections for Māori, disabled, minoritised and oppressed communities and weakening the integrity of our public health system.' The pace and magnitude of these changes, in addition to the lack of open and transparent consultation, is cause for great concern from our profession. Psychologists work largely within highly complex areas of psychosocial need where Te Tiriti based equity measures have had enduring impacts on access to specialist psychological services across multiple levels of care, need and across government sectors. One of the most troubling proposals is the repeal of Te Mauri o Rongo, the New Zealand Health Charter, which sets out values and expectations for culturally safe care across the health sector. The Charter has provided essential guidance for health professionals, including psychologists, on how to engage respectfully and effectively with tangata whenua and other marginalised groups. 'Te Mauri o Rongo is more than symbolic—it reflects years of collaborative work to embed Te Tiriti principles into everyday practice,' said Dr Rebecca Wirihana 'Its removal signals a deliberate move away from partnership, equity, and accountability.' The Society also opposes the downgrading of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards, which are currently tasked with influencing local health service design. Under the proposed amendments, these Boards would be relegated to a consultative role, without meaningful power to shape outcomes. 'This is a clear breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,' said Dr Rebecca Wirihana 'Psychologists know from practice and research that Māori leadership in health leads to better outcomes for everyone. Removing that leadership undermines community trust and exacerbates health disparities.' Recent repurposing of the Health Research Council (HRC) funding to advancement in technology will further erode the evidence-based research the HRC has contributed too and informed for decades. Again, lack of full consultation regarding these changes breaches Te Tiriti o Waitangi and demoralises health researchers and the contribution they have made to building evidence-based interventions across our wider diaspora. Further concerns include the reintroduction of rigid health targets, which NZPsS warns will encourage data manipulation and lead to the exclusion of patients with complex needs—including those experiencing mental distress, neurodivergence, or disability. Nick Farrelly (Director for Professional Issues) said 'These targets are not accompanied by the resourcing necessary to improve care, and risk further overburdening an already stretched workforce. With the focus of the proposal being on timely service, targets will be focused on seeing as many people as quickly as possible (rather than focusing on how well these people become) prioritizing outputs over outcomes. This will favour short-term interventions, and therefore mild/moderate cases are more likely to be seen and accepted. Severe and complex cases may be passed around at best, or possibly ignored at worst, as they will impede the focus on achieving targets. This approach does not lean itself towards efficacious psychological work, and psychologists will face the tension of knowing that people who need long-term psychological intervention may only get a short-term fix, if they get seen at all'. The recent report from the Auditor General Providing Equitable Access to Planned Care Treatment highlighted these inconsistencies in Health New Zealand's reporting methods noting inequitable access to planned care prolonging wait times for Māori, Pacific, rural and low socio-demographic communities. The report reiterated the need for He Pae Ora Act (2022) equity-based measures as a critical framework for reducing systemic barriers impacting access to care across these communities. The Society is also alarmed by the government's broader signals such as the Putting Patients First consultation document, which suggest a move to weaken regulatory standards and reduce requirements for cultural competency in health professions. 'These changes threaten the safety of service users and undermine the credibility of the health workforce,' said Dr Rebekah Graham, Director of Professional Development and Training. 'Registered psychologists in Aotearoa New Zealand are held to high standards for good reason. These must not be eroded for the sake of convenience or cost-cutting.' The NZPsS urges the Government, and the Health Select Committee to reconsider these amendments and instead work to strengthen the foundations of a just, inclusive, and evidence-based public health system. 'We must uphold our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, protect cultural safety, and ensure that all people in Aotearoa can access care that is safe, appropriate, and responsive to their needs,' said Dr Rebekah Graham. Note:
1News
6 days ago
- 1News
Iwi Māori partnership boards unite to oppose changes to health legislation
Iwi Māori partnership boards (IMPBs) from across the country are making a unified stand against proposed policy changes they say will reduce their statutory role in the health system. The fifteen boards are meeting in New Plymouth for the first time since the first reading of the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill. They say their monitoring powers are critical to ensuring health services are accountable to Māori communities and responsive to local needs. The hui aims to 'build a unified national voice' in response to the proposed changes, according to host IMPB Te Punanga Ora. They refer to Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi that guarantees tino rangatiratanga. 'These changes take us from active partners to passive recipients - a shift that undermines the partnership foundations built over decades,' said Hiria Te Paki, pou whakahaere. 'Telling us after the fact is not consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.' ADVERTISEMENT IMPBs were established under the Act in 2022 to ensure the health needs and priorities of Māori communities are met. 'This move silences our voices and severs a critical connection between Māori communities and the health system,' said Te Paki. 'Māori are still dying, on average, seven years younger than non-Māori. Diluting our leadership and input will only deepen these inequities.' Chair of the Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board and former Labour MP Louisa Wall said initially IMPBs were created as a solution to assist the government to address inequities within the health system. 'So the latest iteration of changes is to diminish our role, but we are servants of our people. All of us have mandate from hapū and iwi to represent our whānau voices so we will continue to do that in spite of this government.' Louisa Wall (Source: Te Karere) The IMPBs represent more than 900,000 Māori. Wall said the biggest problem Māori face with the health system is primary intervention – engaging earlier and 'not at the hospital'. ADVERTISEMENT '[The health system is] inefficient because our people are engaging far too late and the reason iwi Māori partnership boards were formed in the first place was to make access – and early access – possible, and that's what we've all been focused on.' She said in undermining the role of IMPBs, the government has undermined the whole health system. 'They're almost cutting off their nose to spite their face, and that's the ridiculous part of what they're doing, and the most disappointing, is that we're just starting to get traction and make a real difference and ensure that patients are at the centre of our health system.' She said they had 'stunning' relationships with previous Health Ministers Dr Shane Reti and Peeni Henare but have yet to meet with Minister Simeon Brown. 'It's appalling behaviour for partners in a system that put patients first, and so this government's really clear that they want to do that but through their actions they've actually contradicted the whole ethos of the changes that they're proposing.' Health Minister Brown said his priority is ensuring all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare and the government is committed to delivering services based on need. He said he recognised that different approaches are required to effectively reach and support communities. ADVERTISEMENT 'As part of this, we are enhancing the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC), which will provide independent advice to both me and the board of Health New Zealand. 'Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) will play a key role in this approach by engaging with their communities and sharing local insights with HMAC. This advice will inform decision-making made by myself and the Health New Zealand board.' He said the changes have been welcomed by the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board as well as HMAC who has expressed its support. The Minister announced in June the proposed changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and the amendment bill passed its first reading in July. Public submissions on the bill close on August 18.
Scoop
01-08-2025
- Scoop
Patient-Focused New Zealand Health Plan Tabled
Minister of Health Health New Zealand's New Zealand Health Plan was tabled in Parliament this afternoon. Developed by Health New Zealand, the plan is a requirement under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. 'The plan outlines how Health New Zealand will deliver on the Government's health priorities over the period 2024–2027,' Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'It sets the direction for how we will improve health outcomes and ensure all New Zealanders can access the care they need, where and when they need it. 'It gives effect to the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027, with a clear focus on the Government's five health targets and five mental health targets: Health targets: faster cancer treatment improved childhood immunisation shorter stays in emergency departments shorter wait times for first specialist assessments shorter wait times for elective treatment. Mental health and addiction targets: faster access to specialist mental health and addiction services faster access to primary mental health and addiction services shorter mental health and addiction related stays in emergency departments increased mental health and addiction workforce development strengthened focus on prevention and early intervention. 'The plan is focused on achieving the Government's health targets, ensuring the health system delivers real results for patients and communities. These targets are backed by clear accountability and transparent reporting, so the public can track progress on a regular basis. 'Reducing wait times is a key priority for the Government. Too many New Zealanders have been left waiting far too long for the care they need. Under the last Government, waitlists ballooned – with the number of Kiwis waiting more than four months for elective procedures like hip, knee, or cataract surgeries increasing by over 2,500 per cent. 'Health New Zealand is focussed on delivering the Elective Boost programme, which will deliver 21,000 additional procedures over the 2025/2026 year to help clear the backlog of patients needing care.' The plan also sets out how the Government will grow and support the health workforce; improve clinical leadership with continuous quality improvement and innovation; invest in essential hospital infrastructure; ensure services are delivered more consistently across the country; and strengthen primary care across New Zealand so that people can receive timely, quality care in the community. 'Our focus is clear: putting patients back at the centre of the health system. We're building a system that delivers real results, and this plan is a key part of that,' Mr Brown says. Note:
