Key areas have been identified by the Health Funding Authority which may have been breached by National Women’s Hospital.

National Women’s Hospital has decided to set up a luxury user pays birthing centre at its Epson, Auckland site. There at the Cornwall Unit mothers, if they pay for the pleasure, can enjoy an a la carte menu, television and video movies, ensuit bathrooms, security and a guarantee that senior midwives will be at the birth.

But the HFA's maternity manager, Barbara Browne, says the hospital has breached its publicly funded maternity contract, as many of the services the hospital is selling are already funded. She says a split in standards within the public health system looks apparent.

Negotiations are currently underway between the HFA and National Women’s. If the negotiations over the contracts fail, then arbitration will be sought.

If National Women’s Hospital is found to have breached the HFA contract, then the hospital will be forced to either revise or cancel its private maternity service.

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