Plea for maternity review in Caithness
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A CALL has been made for the new chief executive of NHS Highland to undertake a review of maternity provision in Caithness.
It was made by far north SNP MSP Gail Ross, who wants to know how the change to the maternity service at Caithness General Hospital in Wick is working. The facility has been downgraded from a consultant to a midwife-led unit with more local mothers having to travel to Raigmore in Inverness to give birth.
Mrs Ross said: "I met with the new chief executive [Iain Stewart] last month and we discussed a number of issues about health provision in Caithness. Top of the list was the maternity and I asked him if he would undertake a review into how the reconfiguration is working. There are a number of things I would like to be looked at, some which are wider than just maternity, such as paediatrics and gynaecology."
She added: "Parents in Caithness must be reassured that they are offered adequate services and, while the success of Near Me is to be welcomed, we still need to see more options in Caithness.
"Mothers need to be sufficiently apprised of all the options open to them and if giving birth in Caithness is one of those, they need the peace of mind that this will be a positive experience and that all procedures are in place for any complications that arise."
Mr Stewart has agreed to undertake a review but Mrs Ross has written to ask him how it will be conducted, when it will commence and what it will cover.
She stated: "As you know, we aim to get as many births as we can in Caithness, health of mother and baby obviously being paramount. What is being done to try and achieve this, how are staff being trained and how can we reassure the public that this is a viable option?
"Feedback from members of the public indicate that they need assurances on transport and whether the risk assessment for emergencies is working. I would also like to know about staff morale, whether they are comfortable with the arrangements, and also how they feel it is perceived now in the community.
"I would also like to know if we have any feedback from parents themselves, if possible. I know there have been a couple of stories in the press recently but I also know that there are parents that have had extremely positive experiences but whose voices are not being heard.
"I expect that gynaecology and paediatrics will also be included as this all falls within the department."
