Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora has acknowledged improvements after a baby died from a catastrophic brain injury during labor.
A Health and Disability Commission investigation found that the baby should have been delivered earlier by caesarean section.
Health NZ Canterbury chief medical officer Dr Richard French accepted the findings and apologised to the family involved for the shortcomings in the standard of care provided.
Deputy Commissioner Rose Wall has criticized Christchurch Women’s Hospital for serious failures in care during the mother’s prolonged labor after she was induced.
French said all recommendations have been implemented or resolved, such as improving the system to communicate the need for additional operating theatre capacity and providing back-up medical staff during high complexity and need.
Health NZ continues to advocate for improvements in maternity and obstetric care in Waitaha Canterbury, stating that the staff involved in the mother and baby’s care have shared that the experience has and will have a lifelong impact on them personally and professionally.
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