c) Inpatient services Only a number of DHBs (Auckland, Counties Manukau and Canterbury) have the ability to deliver inpatient secondary maternal mental health services where mother and baby can be placed together. Some DHBs have small areas separate to the main adult mental health wards which can be used by mothers and babies if required. Canterbury DHB provides the largest and most comprehensive service of this kind in the country in its Mothers and Babies Unit. We note that surrounding DHBs have access to these inpatient services. We note that the Government has allocated $18.2 million over four years to improve acute maternal mental health services. We have sought updates from the Ministry on work with DHBs to implement this funding, and will continue to do so. d) Education Some DHBs provide education programmes for mothers with a prior history of mental illness. For the most part, this is provided postnatally. e) Alcohol and other drug services Auckland and Canterbury DHBs provide specialist regional services for pregnant women with alcohol or other drug addiction. Other DHBs have access to these services as necessary. 2 Waiting Almost all of the DHBs stated that there are currently no waiting times for their service. For those where there were waiting times, the largest was the Canterbury Mothers and Babies Unit, with a four-month waiting time. Auckland DHB’s specialist maternal mental health team quoted a two to three month waiting time. 3 Referrals from LMCs to primary mental health services Many DHBs stated that they do not have access to the number of referrals from LMCs to primary mental health services. However, those that did have this information reported referrals from LMCs ranged from 14.3% to 24.5% of total referrals to primary mental health services. The percentage of referrals from LMCs to specialist maternal mental health services ranged from 3% to 71% of total referrals to these services. This information shows significant variability in access to services for pregnant women. The changes we expect to see 1 We want all DHBs to promote access to services for women with maternal mental health issues. This will require better linkages between these services and maternity care providers. 2 Knowledge of mental health services available to the maternity sector must improve.
c) Inpatient services Only a number of DHBs (Auckland, Counties Manukau and Canterbury) have the ability to deliver inpatient secondary maternal mental health services where mother and baby can be placed together. Some DHBs have small areas separate to the main adult mental health wards which can be used by mothers and babies if required. Canterbury DHB provides the largest and most comprehensive service of this kind in the country in its Mothers and Babies Unit. We note that surrounding DHBs have access to these inpatient services. We note that the Government has allocated $18.2 million over four years to improve acute maternal mental health services. We have sought updates from the Ministry on work with DHBs to implement this funding, and will continue to do so. d) Education Some DHBs provide education programmes for mothers with a prior history of mental illness. For the most part, this is provided postnatally. e) Alcohol and other drug services Auckland and Canterbury DHBs provide specialist regional services for pregnant women with alcohol or other drug addiction. Other DHBs have access to these services as necessary. 2 Waiting Almost all of the DHBs stated that there are currently no waiting times for their service. For those where there were waiting times, the largest was the Canterbury Mothers and Babies Unit, with a four-month waiting time. Auckland DHB’s specialist maternal mental health team quoted a two to three month waiting time. 3 Referrals from LMCs to primary mental health services Many DHBs stated that they do not have access to the number of referrals from LMCs to primary mental health services. However, those that did have this information reported referrals from LMCs ranged from 14.3% to 24.5% of total referrals to primary mental health services. The percentage of referrals from LMCs to specialist maternal mental health services ranged from 3% to 71% of total referrals to these services. This information shows significant variability in access to services for pregnant women. The changes we expect to see 1 We want all DHBs to promote access to services for women with maternal mental health issues. This will require better linkages between these services and maternity care providers. 2 Knowledge of mental health services available to the maternity sector must improve.
national-maternity-monitoring-group-annual-report-2013-nov13.docx