Maree Todd MSP has a ‘constructive’ chat with CHAT – health and maternity issues discussed at Thurso meeting
After a recent impasse over maternity provision in Caithness, Maree Todd MSP met up with a local pressure group in Thurso in what was described as a “constructive discussion”.
In August, the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP was challenged over her view that there should be no going back on the controversial downgrading of the maternity service at Caithness General Hospital.
Iain Gregory, the vice chair of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), met up with Ms Todd in Thurso earlier this month to discuss healthcare delivery and service provision in the far north, at a meeting which both parties described as “constructive”.
Commenting following the meeting, she said: “I was pleased to meet with Iain Gregory from the Caithness Health Action Team in Thurso for a constructive discussion around healthcare in Caithness.
“Like CHAT, I want to see the highest quality healthcare delivered locally in Caithness. We all want to see improved access to essential health services and care that meets the community’s needs.
“I am fully committed to supporting CHAT on this, and have already helped to improve their engagement with NHS Highland, and ensuring that the healthcare needs of the community are considered in every decision related to service provision.”
Mr Gregory said after the meeting: "I was pleased to meet with Maree Todd, MSP, on behalf of CHAT, and we had a valuable and constructive meeting, lasting for over two hours, during which we discussed many aspects of healthcare provision in the far north, with maternity at the top of the agenda.
“As a campaign group, CHAT is dedicated to ensuring that the highest quality medical care is provided, locally, to the people of Caithness, and there is no doubt whatsoever that improving maternity services is an absolute priority for women in our area.”
Ms Todd said that she understands that improving maternity services is a “top priority” for her far north constituents. “This is a complex issue, and the safety concerns raised by clinicians that led to the change of the maternity model cannot be overlooked,” she stated.
“The wellbeing and safety of expectant mothers and their babies must be central to all decisions. I am keen to see progress and will be meeting soon with NHS Highland’s chief midwife to discuss this and the issues that have been raised by expectant mothers in my constituency.”
Last month, Ms Todd was asked at a meeting of the Association of Caithness Community Councils whether she would support the reinstatement of the consultant service in Wick. She replied that as a politician she did not feel competent to overrule medical experts who had deemed the previous arrangements unsafe.
Following the introduction of the midwife-led unit in 2017, CHAT has spearheaded the campaign on behalf of local women who regularly face 200-mile-plus return trips to Inverness.
Last year, there were 208 births at Raigmore in Inverness and just 12 at the Wick hospital. CHAT insists there is “an overwhelmingly strong body of public opinion in the county” that the present maternity system – which means the vast majority of far north mums having to go to Inverness to have their babies – is “simply not acceptable”.
Mr Gregory said that the campaign group also recently met Fiona Davis, chief executive of NHS Highland, and Sarah Compton-Bishop, chair of NHS Highland. “We look forward to making progress in all aspects of improving access to healthcare in Caithness, to meet the wishes and needs of expectant mums and babies, and indeed all patients who require treatment.”
He further says that CHAT is working closely with other campaign groups across Scotland “to enhance the delivery of rural healthcare provision across Scotland”.
Ms Todd says she looks forward to further discussions with CHAT.
