Jamie Stone tells fellow MPs maternity is 'a massive, massive issue' in Caithness
Jamie Stone has issued a fresh plea over the long journeys made by many expectant mothers from Caithness, arguing that no family should face increased risk "simply because of where they live".
Speaking in parliament today, the Liberal Democrat MP described maternity provision as "a massive, massive issue" in his Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.
The consultant-led maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital was downgraded in 2016 to a midwife-led facility and most women in the far north now give birth at Raigmore.
Mr Stone told fellow MPs that for many women this means a car journey of more than 100 miles, sometimes in bad weather.
"Despite repeated demands, the Scottish Government has never ever conducted a safety audit on this huge change in the service," he said. "It is a massive, massive issue in my constituency.
"I feel very strongly that no mother, no father, no child, no unborn baby should suffer increased risk simply because of where they live in our United Kingdom."
Mr Stone noted that a review was being undertaken into the situation for Moray mothers and said the same should apply for those in the far north.
For the past four years, since the maternity service in Elgin was downgraded due to a lack of consultants, most pregnant Moray women have had to travel to Aberdeen to give birth. Moves to allow more Moray mums to be sent instead to Raigmore in Inverness are being investigated.
Mr Stone said he recognised that health is a devolved matter.
He said: "Some years ago, we enjoyed a consultant-led maternity service based in Caithness General Hospital. It was decided by NHS Highland to downgrade that.
"The consequence is that pregnant mothers have to travel 104 miles from Wick to Inverness to give birth to their children. This caused a huge outcry in my constituency.
"What if you're in an ambulance or private car in the winter and the weather changes, which it very often does between Caithness and Sutherland, and you get caught in a snowdrift?"
Caithness Health Action Team has pointed out that 92 per cent of local mothers have to go to Inverness to give birth. The group would like to see a return to a consultant-led maternity service in Wick but feels that the "Orkney model" – a midwife-led unit supported by consultants – would work for Caithness.