On April 15 the centre, a primary birthing unit, will be downgraded to a maternal and child hub as part of the Southern District Health Board's revamp of the region's maternity services.
The decision was greeted with anger in Lumsden; a protest march was held and a petition organised by Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker attracted more than 5000 signatures.
That petition is one of two sparked by the SDHB reforms to be considered by MPs tomorrow. The other is the petition of Iona Bentley, which calls for the creation of a sustainable model for rural community midwifery in Wanaka.
Mr Walker's petition faced the prospect of not being considered by the committee before the change of service levels at Lumsden, but has made the agenda just in time.
Mr Walker will speak in support of his petition tomorrow and hoped to persuade the committee to investigate the SDHB's decision, hence deferring any reduction of Lumsden's status.
An SDHB commissioner's meeting a fortnight ago was told everything was on track for the changes at Lumsden.
Mr Walker said the response to his petition showed how important the centre was to rural Southland and to Lumsden.
"This is about equality for rural mothers and babies, who do not deserve to be treated like second-class citizens,'' he said.
"To keep the farming sector strong we need vital health services like the Lumsden Maternity Centre to continue.''
Iona Bentley's petition reflects dissatisfaction in Wanaka that the rapidly growing town was assigned a maternal and child hub when locals believed it should have a primary birthing unit.
"Our nearest tertiary unit is Queen Mary Hospital, in Dunedin, which is 3hr 29min from Wanaka,'' she said.
"This makes us one of the most rural communities in the country in terms of access to tertiary care.''
In recent months the SDHB has employed extra midwives in Wanaka, and it has also said service levels for Central Otago remained under review.
The location of the hub has yet to be announced, but a report to SDHB commissioners said a suitable property had been identified in Gordon Rd.
"A letter of intent has been agreed and we anticipate taking over the lease in September 2019,'' the report said.
"A blueprint has been drafted for fit-out to create two clinic rooms, emergency treatment room, and large reception area.''
The hub was expected open early next year.
Meanwhile, SDHB primary and community executive director Lisa Gestro said work was progressing on the first stage of a maternal and child hub in Te Anau.
The SDHB had leased space and was providing relief midwifery support for the lead maternity carer in Te Anau.
"We're also providing emergency maternity education to the multi-disciplinary team in Te Anau for additional emergency support.''
Fiordland Medical Centre was providing an emergency treatment room and assisting with materials for routine and urgent maternity care, Mrs Gestro said.
"We will continue to work with FMC so that in the future the midwifery rooms might be integrated into the medical centre and a possible additional treatment room added to the medical centre, but that is subject to capital works.''
