HFA Criticises Two Tier Maternity Services 
Staff Reporter  Peter Fowler 19/07/99 17:16:00 

The Health Funding Authority has criticised National Women's Hospital in Auckland for creating a two-tier service, by offering paid luxury maternity units.

The hospital has opened an eight-bed unit offering private rooms, 24-hour service and an a la carte menu, costing up to $281 a night. 

The refurbishment cost the hospital $490,000, and it says profits will be used to up-grade public wards.

HFA national maternity manager, Brenda Browne, says funds for post-natal facilities, which were increased by up to $400 per woman this financial year, are sufficient to provide quality care in the public system.

She said the two tier system will damage perceptions about the quality of facilities in the public system, and the HFA will be discussion the development with National Women's Hospital.

Meanwhile the Coalition for Public Health claims the introduction of a two-class maternity service at Auckland Healthcare is an inevitable result of the government's reforms.

The spokesman, Dr Alister Scott, said it is hypocritical of the HFA to criticise the move when, he claims, it has helped to create the very conditions which have led to private patients receiving care in public hospitals. 

"Public hospitals have for some time been encouraged by the Government to seek health service funds from private sources. They are doing this because they are under-resourced,” he said. 

© NewsRoom 1999 (Combining the resources of Radio New Zealand News)