Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

mother and the Lead Maternity Carer who should remain central to the Post Natal
module of care.
The better the information and the sharing of it with those working with a family the better the
care we can provide for our children.
Labour will ensure earlier and more formalised handover between Lead Maternity
Carers and Well Child Providers.
This will assist with the identification of families and children needing special support, and
will help Well Child Providers to begin support (e.g. home visiting) and, where needed, to
intervene earlier.
Labour will also make sure children‟s health information is available to the health and
child protection professionals who need it.
Core health and wellbeing information will be linked through health information systems to
ensure it follows the child, and that all services are responding to that child‟s situation.
Labour will work to close the cracks between agencies protecting children.
Youth Pregnancy and Parenting
New Zealand has the second highest teenage pregnancy rate in the developed world.
Although these parents and their babies have increased health and social risks, many do
well and they are a vital part of the future of our country.
Labour developed a „Youth Pregnancy and Parenting Programme of Action‟, which was
approved by Cabinet in 2008. This plan has not been implemented by this government.
A multi-agency wrap around approach is aimed to grow awareness of body safety and
awareness and encourage young women to improve their knowledge of the impact on their
lives of an unintended pregnancy.
The plan also helps young parents to make informed decisions on how to parent and
manage a more complex lifestyle while continuing to access ongoing learning.
Labour will implement the Youth Pregnancy and Parenting Programme of Action.
This will be a cross-agency/sector initiative lead by the Ministry of Health and involve
the Ministry of Education, Social Development and Youth Affairs.
Hospital services
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