Health Committee backs bill to extend hospital stays for new mums, but how much will it cost?
Photo:
123RF
Parliament's Health Committee recommends the Pae Ora Amendment Bill - which would offer mothers and newborns a minimum three-day postnatal hospital stay - be passed without any changes.
However, the
committee's report
also notes the cost to add capacity to the system could be over $100 million, plus up to $38.3 million in annual operational costs.
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.
The bill also requires the lead maternity carer to let the mother know what she is eligible for.
In the report, the Health Committee said they had "no issues regarding the legislation's design to bring to the attention of the House".
But the report said the Committee were "advised" that 175 additional beds would need to be added to the nation-wide system to manage the increase of inpatient care.
The capital expenditure - the initial amount needed to set-up - was estimated at $100 million, while annual operational costs could range from $31.9 million and $38.3 million, the report said.
The costs are based on 100 percent demand.
As not all mothers would use the 72-hour entitlement, the overall cost would be lower, the report said.
The majority of submitters were in favour of the bill.
But the report said regardless of stance, submitters agreed that a 72-hour stay alone will
not solve broader issues
in the maternity sector.
"They
sought wider reforms
, including resourcing, alongside any change to postnatal care entitlements," the report concluded.
Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall.
Photo:
VNP/Louis Collins
Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall called on the government to provide the funding needed to implement the changes.
"Anything less is a cynical attempt to look like it cares about women's health while actually doing nothing," Verrall said.
National MP Catherine Wedd - who put the bill forward - said funding decisions were yet to be made.
"If the bill progresses, our focus will be on making sure any changes are realistic, well-planned and sustainable - so they can truly deliver for families and for our health system," she said in a written statement.
National MP Catherine Wedd.
Photo:
RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"Investing in postnatal care through this bill will yield long-term benefits for the health and wellbeing of mothers, babies and whānau across New Zealand."
She said the government "absolutely" supported the goal of ensuring women have access to safe and high-quality postnatal care.
The bill is set to go back to the House for further debate.
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