The review, which resulted in the status of Lumsden Maternity Centre being downgraded and a decision whether Wanaka should have a birthing unit being put under further examination, faces potential legal action from LMC's owner, the Northern Southland Health Company.
Dr Clark told Parliament yesterday public outcry in March at the release of the SDHB's draft plan - which spurred protest marches in Lumsden and a petition to Parliament - meant he wanted further information on the soundness of the plan.
"I asked Ministry of Health experts to review Southern DHB's decision to prove me with assurance that mothers and babies would continue to receive the high-quality care that they deserve," Dr Clark said.
"I have received that assurance."
Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield wrote to SDHB chief executive Chris Fleming last month, saying ministry staff had reviewed the proposed strategy and he supported the SDHB's approach.
"In developing your strategy it is evident that you have taken a district-wide approach that looks at services across the region as a whole rather than individual areas," Dr Bloomfield said.
"In doing this you have applied an equity lens, ensuring women in disadvantaged communities have the right support at the right time."
The SDHB proposal was "future-focused" and aligned with the Government's wider primary health strategy, Dr Bloomfield said.
"It will be important to communicate the DHB's final decision in an open way to the community.
"We also encourage you to monitor the changes to ensure that women are able to access the new service arrangements as intended."
The NSHC and local National MP Hamish Walker have expressed concerns the SDHB based its maternity plan decisions on incorrect data.
Dr Clark said yesterday the ministry raised no concerns about the quality of data used by the SDHB to make its decisions.
National health spokesman Michael Woodhouse said Dr Clark's response "beggars belief".
"It has been brought to our attention by the community and by Lumsden's directors that some of the data in the report that the decision to axe Lumsden's birthing unit was based on is clearly wrong and does not represent the true extent of the care provided at the centre," Mr Woodhouse said.
"What's worse is that David Clark outlined that he has asked the ministry to review the decision, but relied on the same officials and the same flawed advice that informed the first decision."
Ministry experts were not the only outsiders commissioned to look at the DHB's plans; the SDHB itself asked midwifery consultants to review issues involving travel distances between Lumsden and other locales.
"The external advisers provided their opinion that there is no additional clinical risk to moving Lumsden to a maternal and child hub (as opposed to a birthing facility), if SDHB implements the required mitigation." the SDHB's maternity plan said.
"These mitigations include the provision of equipment and processes to support urgent and emergency births, and greater support to ensure the sustainability of LMC midwives, who can help women plan to manage the travel required."
