Scottish Government ministers invited on Wick to Raigmore winter road trip
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A Caithness health campaigner has backed a call for two Scottish Government ministers to go on a winter road trip from Wick to Raigmore – a journey many local mothers-to-be are expected to undertake whatever the weather.
Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, is inviting Scotland's health secretary Humza Yousaf and the minister for public health, women's health and sport, Maree Todd, to join him on a Covid-compliant car journey down the northern A9 at a time when road conditions are likely to be at their worst.
Criticising the Scottish Government for "years of inaction", Mr Stone argues that such a trip would help the ministers to understand "the realities of this situation".
Bill Fernie, chairman of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), says his group supports Mr Stone's idea.
"We would agree that elected representatives should certainly gain experience of the travel problems faced by people, especially if dependent on public transport or going in the middle of the night or in winter conditions," Mr Fernie said.
"CHAT certainly supports our politicians having the experience that mothers-to-be and others have to endure."
Many women in the far north have to give birth at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness following the downgrading of the Caithness unit from a consultant-led to a midwife-led facility a number of years ago.
In a letter to Mr Yousaf, Mr Stone said: "As you will know, we have an excellent team of health professionals here in the north Highlands who do extraordinary work in difficult circumstances. For that we are extremely grateful to them.
"For some years, however, they have been limited in the services they can offer due to the downgrading of the maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital, which removed consultants from the facility and meant that the vast majority of women are now asked to give birth in Inverness."
Mr Stone highlighted an "alarming drop" in the number of women in Caithness choosing to give birth. "This is of particular concern as it is taking place in a region of the Highlands and Islands that is already suffering from serious depopulation – a drop of nine per cent is expected over the next decade," he wrote.
"Travelling from Caithness to Inverness by road is a trip of over 100 miles, taking upwards of two hours along the A9, a difficult road that is at times impassable due to winter weather conditions.
"There has never been a safety audit into this journey despite repeated requests from myself and others, a fact that I find particularly egregious given recent news that Moray will be receiving an independent review into its maternity provision. While this is obviously very welcome, it begs the question as to why the same has not taken place in Caithness in the years since the downgrade went into effect."
Inviting Mr Yousaf and Ms Todd to accompany him on a car trip this winter from Wick to Raigmore, Mr Stone stated: "After years of inaction, and birth rates continuing to decline, I believe it is important for the Scottish Government to fully understand the realities of this situation. As the people of Caithness have told the Scottish Government time and time again, it simply cannot continue."
Ms Todd took on her new ministerial role after being elected as SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross in May.
Mr Fernie warned that the maternity concerns are part of a wider set of problems facing the county.
"It is no surprise that more people have chosen not to have their children in Caithness when faced with the potential problems," he said.
"It seems a circular argument that as there are fewer babies, the health authority has reduced the services in Caithness. That leads to more babies not being born here and so on, round and round. It has taken time to evolve to this ever-reducing position.
"The health issues that relate to travel are just part of the wider issues for the county. The Scottish and UK governments have not come up with anything other than reasons to downsize, close or move elsewhere.
"We are going to keep going in this downward spiral and the biggest drop yet will come as Dounreay reduces with decommissioning.
"The Scottish Government is presiding over the demise in the county of health services and centralising more to Inverness. The fact that services such as maternity do not offer what they used to means families will make decisions on what is on offer.
"Similarly, private sector employers will also decide whether to stay or not come at all."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The cabinet secretary is considering the letter from Mr Stone and will respond in due course.
“We expect all boards to provide maternity services that are delivered as close to home as possible, but this has to be balanced with ensuring the safety of mother and baby.
“We welcomed the Best Start North review, commissioned by NHS Grampian, Highland and the island boards, which aims to examine maternity and neonatal services in the north of Scotland and, in consultation with local people, develop the best possible sustainable model for the future.
“In May 2020 the Scottish Government provided capital funding for the creation of a new-build community midwifery unit (CMU) at Caithness General Hospital. This work is near to completion, with an opening date expected soon.”
The Scottish Government says the number of babies being born in the Caithness unit is comparable with numbers born in other CMUs in the Highlands and other parts of Scotland. It says mothers-to-be are provided information about both CMU and consultant units, including transfer/transport, geography and retrieval times, to support their decision on place of birth.
The Caithness maternity unit changed from an obstetric unit to a midwife unit in 2016 "on the basis of safety". Mothers and/or babies who are assessed as needing obstetric or neonatal care are transferred to Raigmore.
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