Timetable sought for independent review of maternity services

The Scottish Government and NHS Highland are being urged to set out a timetable for collating the information required for Scottish Ministers to make a decision in response to calls for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

That is the view of David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness Sutherland and Ross, who has written NHS Highland whilst hitting out at recent claims from the SNP that maternity services are “a priority” of their government as “utterly tone deaf and absent of any contrition.”

The intervention comes after it was revealed through freedom of Information legislation by The John O’Groat Journal that since Caithness maternity services were downgraded in 2016, neither the Scottish Government nor NHS Highland have conducted any review of the policy.

CHAT campaigners also spoke out again after the claims made by Maree Todd, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, that maternity services are “a priority” for the Scottish Government caused a heated backlash on social media.

Last year, a report by the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s (SHRC) into ‘Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands’, revealed that the right to health in the Far North of Scotland was seriously inadequate with regards to accessibility and availability. Only 15 women gave birth at the community midwife-led unit in Wick in 2024.

A meeting was then held at the end of July between the public and women’s health minister Jenni Minto MSP and members of CHAT, requested by Mr Green and Far North MP Jamie Stone, at Wick General Hospital where the minister made a commitment to look at an independent review of maternity services.

When MSPs returned to Holyrood this last month [September], the Scottish Liberal Democrats submitted a series of parliamentary questions that included a request of ministers to outline when and how they expect to reach a decision on the request for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

In response, Jenni Minto MSP confirmed she has written to NHS Highland and explained “if Scottish Ministers have concerns about local services they would discuss these with the Board…following which Ministers may decide to commission an independent review.” She added: “There are no set criteria for such decisions…”.

David Green, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said:

“Quite frankly, to read the recent claim from the SNP that maternity services are a priority of their government is utterly tone deaf and absent of any contrition for the circumstances for which people are concerned today.  

“Both the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the UN called this a matter of human rights, and I agree. Those judgements are not just about the hollowing out of maternity services, they highlight the increasing centralisation of sexual health services too.

“It is up to Ministers to decide whether they will commission an independent review of maternity services in Caithness, that is clear. But every day without action is another day women face unacceptable 100-mile journeys.

“It is only right that the Scottish Government makes clear when they expect to have the information they require from NHS Highland in order to make a decision. Maternity services and women’s healthcare in Caithness must be at the top of their agenda.”

Councillor Ron Gunn, Chair of Caithness Health Action Team, said:

“The downgrading of maternity services has had a big impact on our community, none more so that mums, babies, and their families. The knock-on effect to health care for women in the area cannot go ignored.

“Truth be told, we have now met with multiple Health Secretaries, Government Ministers, and NHS Highland Chief Executives but nothing has changed in almost a decade. It is a disgrace that 90% of our mums must travel to Inverness to give birth.

“The case for an independent review of the maternity situation in Caithness is only growing. The Minister said she would consider it during the summer, but our patience is running out. We need an urgent answer - this must be addressed now.”

ENDS.