Review of Scotland's maternity services to begin after summer

A review of Scotland’s maternity services will begin after the summer and be completed within nine months, the health secretary has announced.

In a statement to Parliament, Angela Constance confirmed maternal and child health expert Professor Christine McCourt will lead the independent review.

The minister promised the review’s findings will result in “real and tangible change for women and their families”.

The review, which is expected to take nine months to complete, will examine how maternity services can better meet the needs of women, including in rural and island communities.

Constance said it will include care in Caithness, Wigtownshire and Elgin, where women have reported being forced to travel long distances following a reduction in maternity services.

The Scottish Government said Prof McCourt will review how NHS boards “engage meaningfully with their communities on decisions they make about maternity services”.

The report will also address the higher maternal mortality rates among black and Asian women.

The full scope and terms of reference will be published by the chairwoman at a later stage.

Constance said: “Every woman in Scotland deserves safe, compassionate and high-quality maternity care, regardless of where she lives.

“I am pleased Professor McCourt will lead our review. She will consult with clinical experts and engage with families and patient groups, including those in rural and island areas such as Caithness, Elgin and Wigtownshire.

“This independent review fulfils a commitment we made for our first 100 days in Government.

“It will build on improvements already being made in the NHS, including the maternity standards launched earlier this year.

“It will be carried out at pace and completed within nine months.

“I am clear this review will deliver real and tangible change for women and their families.”

Prof McCourt, who leads the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research at the University of London, said: “Positive maternity experiences and outcomes are vital for our health and wellbeing.

“I look forward to listening and learning from families and communities across Scotland, as well as from those who provide dedicated care in our NHS.

“This will help draw out lessons for maternity and neonatal services and contribute to ensuring the best possible care for all.”

Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, said reports have already revealed significant maternity care delays experienced by women in Glasgow, 100-mile journeys for those in Caithness, and shortages of midwives in Lothian.

She accused the Health Secretary of failing to include bereaved parents in any taskforce, despite promises previously being made.

Reform MSP Helen McDade said maternity services, including those in areas such as Caithness, are facing “a death by a thousand cuts”.

She said: “First, you don’t have the medical staff, you don’t have housing for them, so they don’t want to come.

“Then you have a problem with midwives, they maybe don’t have midwives, and then you say anybody who is anything other than a low risk has to be moved, and so on it goes.”