'It weighs on our mind': Midwives welcome Labour's maternity plans

about 1 hour ago

Labour says it will fund as many scans per person as medically necessary, across New Zealand, for everyone. File photo

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Midwives lie awake at night worrying about people who can not afford maternity scans, but the Labour Party says this will be a thing of the past under its government.

The party has promised pregnant people free scans, as well as three free doctors visits a year.

The offer will be part of its proposed 'Medicard' scheme.

"Women and their families shouldn't have to worry about money when it comes to making sure they and their babies are okay," leader Chris Hipkins said in a statement on Tuesday.

"For many families, pregnancy comes with enough costs and stress already. A Labour government will ease that pressure by making the scans they need free."

He said it can currently cost prospective mothers up to $90, depending on where they lived.

Labour Party health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said pregnancy and babies were already an expensive time without the cost of scans.

"No one should have to skip a scan because they can't afford it.

"Scans pick up issues early, help families prepare for birth, and save lives.

"This will make a big difference to families at a time when other costs are a big issue, whether that's the cost of a car seat or nappies, or the other adjustments families make to the fact they are often losing income."

Verrall said Labour would fund as many scans per person as medically necessary, across New Zealand, for everyone - not just community services card holders.

Some areas are currently fully funded, while others must pay.

Labour estimated the policy would cost $28.6 million a year, funded by its proposed capital gains tax.

It would also invest $3 million a year in 24 paid positions for trainee sonographers - one cohort of 12 each year - funded out of Health New Zealand's budget.

Verrall said she was only expecting a modest increase in demand for ultrasounds.

"Few people go without, but much more people are paying for their scans and are unable to pay for other things they need as a result of it."

She said the average number of scans per pregnant person was currently 4.9.

'It weighs on our mind'

Despite the small uplift, midwives said it would make a huge difference.

Porirua Midwife Jo Stuart said the policy had long been called for.

"Access to scans is a massive problem, it gives us a emotional load as well trying to figure out who we need to refer to the hospital and say 'have you guys have space' because these people can't afford it."

Her colleague Tess Willis said the promise targeted a struggling group - the squeezed middle.

"It's not just the people that were typically low income, it's actually everyday people with two working parents that it's still a burden for them. $90 to go and have a scan done, you really do think twice about that."

The midwives said it was hard to quantify how many people go without these scans because they usually struggled on in silence - but for those they knew about, it hurt.

"It's anxiety inducing, we do lay awake at night thinking about people.

"It weighs on our mind, because we know what the outcomes can be and we've been involved in cases where the outcomes haven't been good."

Stuart said to know they would not have to worry as much under this policy would be a relief, but there were plenty more areas of maternity care that could be looked at alongside this policy.

The ACT Party was not impressed by the policy.

"Free never means free with Labour," ACT leader David Seymour said.

"Every single one of Labour's promises of 'free' services will end up costing taxpayers. Chris Hipkins is building up false hope by promising people things that they can't afford, the most cynical type of politics."

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