New Zealand’s largest nurses’ union has described hospital staffing shortages linked to the deaths of babies as “a national and avoidable tragedy” following an investigation into maternity care failures.
The NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) responded after a Stuff investigation revealed multiple cases in which babies died or suffered severe injuries, with staffing shortages and workplace pressure identified as contributing factors.
“These whānau may have had different outcomes if these hospitals were safely and properly staffed,” said NZNO Kaiwhakahaere and midwife Kerri Nuku, Stuff has quoted.
“This analysis also noted the pressure on staff, and I would like to acknowledge the mental toll these events would have had on them,” as quoted by Stuff.
Stuff reviewed findings from coroners and the Health & Disability Commissioner involving births in hospitals and maternity centres since 2016. The review identified 11 cases where babies were stillborn or died shortly after birth, and investigations later pointed to staffing shortages or pressure on medical staff.
Another case involved a woman who died during a caesarean section that should have been performed by a senior specialist, but none were available at the time, as reported by Stuff.
Investigators also found staffing issues in five additional cases where babies survived but suffered lifelong disabilities, including brain damage and stroke, after needing resuscitation.
Nuku said responsibility stretched across several governments because “every government makes a decision about the levels of funding they provide for the public health system,” Stuff has quoted.
“It is time for Te Whatu Ora to implement urgent safe midwife-to-patient, and nurse-to-patient ratios. Healthcare funding must be based on patient need not arbitrary budgets.
“These deaths are utter tragedies and every parent’s worst fear. The birth of a baby should be one of the happiest times in your life. My heart and condolences are with each and every whānau that lost a baby … the grief that these mothers endure is tragically life changing," Stuff has quoted.
Health NZ said improvements had been made following the incidents and maintained that maternity care overall in New Zealand remained safe and high quality.
One coroner investigating the death of a newborn girl in 2021 raised serious concerns about hospital systems and resources.
“I am gravely concerned by the resourcing and systems issues highlighted during the course of this inquiry,” the coroner said, as quoted by Stuff.
The baby was born unresponsive after suffering a brain injury before birth and died later that day. The coroner found delays in care at Auckland Hospital may have reduced her chances of survival.
“An acute shortage of midwives … meant there were not enough midwives available to provide care to the women who were in labour or to support the timely transfer of women from the assessment unit to the delivery unit,” the coroner said, Stuff has quoted.
“The midwives on duty were short-staffed, working long hours in demanding roles, and unable to take any breaks,” as quoted by Stuff.
The report noted the true scale of the issue could be higher because many investigations take years, and not all cases are reported to authorities.
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