Renewed plea by campaign group as figures show average of 18 births a year in Caithness
Caithness campaigners have underlined their message that “far too many mums-to-be have to travel to Raigmore” after figures were released showing the limited number of Wick births over the past decade.
Since the consultant-led maternity unit was downgraded in 2016 to a midwife-led facility, an average of about 18 births have been recorded each year at Caithness General Hospital. The vast majority of expectant mothers from the far north go to Inverness.
In the nine years from 2016 to 2024, inclusive, there were a total of 165 births at Caithness General, according to details supplied by NHS Highland following a freedom of information request from a Caithness resident.
The year-by-year statistics are 39 births in 2016; 19 in 2017; 24 in 2018; 10 in 2019; 23 in 2020; 10 in 2021; 8 in 2022; 14 in 2023; and 18 in 2024.
For 2025, the data covers only January to March and the total is given as “less than five”. The health board explains that where numbers are very low the information can’t be disclosed for data protection reasons.
Ron Gunn, chairman of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), said: “These statistics confirm exactly what we have been saying since the downgrading of maternity services in Caithness. Far too many mums-to-be have to travel to Raigmore to give birth.
“Out of a total of 1806 Caithness mums who have given birth since 2016, only about 10 per cent actually gave birth in the CMU [community midwifery unit] in Wick, while 1638 had to travel, in all weather and road conditions, to Raigmore to give birth. The biggest majority of these mums had to travel by private car – very few go by ambulance.
“We have been told by folk better qualified than us that they would expect a CMU to be able to have around 25 to 30 per cent of local mothers give birth there. Why is our figure so low?
“The figures do not include births in the A&E in Wick or the number of births en route between Wick and Inverness.
“We constantly ask why we can’t have more births in Wick but are still waiting for an answer.
“It is hard to believe that it is really necessary for 90 per cent of mothers to go to Raigmore to give birth. NHS Highland has a perfectly good CMU in Wick.
“In comparison, our friends in Orkney who have a midwife-led maternity unit, backed up by consultants, have a local birth rate of over 80 per cent. This is the maternity model that we want NHS Highland to adopt for Caithness.”
Mr Gunn added: “It is worth remembering that the stress of getting to Raigmore is only part of the story. Accommodation can be difficult or very expensive to get – and, because of the distance from Caithness, partners or family members can miss out on the experience of being at the birth.
“Families also have the worry of trying to find care for older siblings while they are in Inverness. Mothers and newborns then have the additional stress of having to travel back up the A9 to get home.”
Two months ago, CHAT alleged that the right to fair and accessible healthcare is “being wilfully denied to people in Caithness”. It claimed that forcing the vast majority of expectant mothers to travel to Inverness to have their babies has been a deliberately retrogressive step and “is no longer defensible”.
Those comments came after a United Nations committee reported on a series of concerns put forward by the group.
Commenting on the 10-year figures for births at Caithness General Hospital, CHAT vice-chairman Iain Gregory said: “Once again we see the stark reality of the situation displayed in statistical form.
“We look forward to the day when – as was always the case in the past – the vast majority of Caithness mums are able to have their babies in our excellent local hospital, cared for by the superb and highly skilled staff for whom we are all truly grateful.”
In April, commenting on CHAT’s submission to the UN and the report arising from it, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “NHS Highland took the decision to move to a midwife-led unit at Caithness General Hospital based on patient safety.
“This means that women can choose to give birth with the support of a midwife, either at home or in the midwife-led unit. However, if there are any risks to mother or baby, they are advised to give birth at Raigmore’s consultant-led unit which has access to specialist care.
“To minimise the need for women to travel, NHS Highland provides weekly obstetric-run antenatal clinics and scanning services in Caithness. NHS Highland also helps with travel and accommodation costs for those who need to travel for care.”
At that same time, NHS Highland said that it provides “as many gynaecology and maternity procedures as is safe to do so in Caithness General Hospital” and that safety and quality are at the forefront of service planning.