Action: Going to the Media

During her pregnancy with her second child, future Hutt Maternity Action Trust board member Meg Waghorn became increasingly concerned about the state of maternity services in the Hutt Valley. After the release of the External Review in Women's Health came in the days after her baby's birth Meg decided - in her role as a committee member for the Lower Hutt Parents Centre - to reach out to local MPs and Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter to make sure they were aware of the severity of the situation.

This led to some media attention about the maternity crisis in the Hutt. Meg has given quotes to media representing maternity consumers several times over the last year. For those interested some of the articles are linked below:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/115666920/understaffed-maternity-ward-at-hutt-hospital-causing-concern-among-new-parents

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/115768779/expectant-mums-urged-to-lock-in-a-midwife-the-minute-they-find-out-theyre-pregnant

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/403239/hutt-valley-midwives-staffing-equipment-shortages-an-ongoing-emergency https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/94-million-boost-for-hutt-hospital-maternity-services-no-magic-bullet/OFW5E7UHLXEH53VLBGJYWUKFV4/

Media attention can be very stressful for mums and maternity staff but the response to speaking out was quite overwhelming, with many mothers and midwives taking the chance to share their at times very distressing stories.