Scottish Labour has called for a national investigation into maternity and neonatal services following a catalogue of safety concerns raised across Scotland.
The party is set to use a debate in the Scottish Parliament today to push the Scottish Government to launch a nationwide review into what it describes as “dangerously overstretched” services that are failing mothers, babies, and staff.
Last week, an Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) report on NHS Lothian’s maternity unit revealed multiple failings, while a previous inspection of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee painted a similarly alarming picture.
The findings echo concerns highlighted in a recent Herald investigation into maternity care in the south of Scotland, which highlighted staff shortages and stretched services putting patients at risk.
There have been warnings from campaigners there could be a death if maternity services in Wigtownshire are not improved and weather conditions worsen— an issue highlighted in The Herald’s series on The future of Dumfries and Galloway in August.
Scottish Labour has also raised concerns about the state of rural maternity services, pointing to mothers in Stranraer and Caithness who have had to travel hundreds of miles to give birth.
The party warned that planned downgrades to neonatal units across Scotland could worsen the situation.
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Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP said: “For many women, the birth of their child will be among the most important moments of their lives, and it is crucial that they get the right care.
“The heart-breaking truth is too many women and babies are being let down by dangerously overstretched maternity and neonatal services.
"From city hospitals that cannot cope to rural communities with no services at all, families the length and breadth of Scotland are being failed.”
The deputy Scottish Labour leader added that NHS staff were “working tirelessly to do right by patients” but were being “asked to do the impossible.”
She also criticised the SNP government for failing to invest in women’s and rural healthcare.
“Today MSPs of all parties have a chance to listen to the mums, dads, doctors, and experts and agree to a national investigation into these crucial services,” she said.
Labour’s motion, lodged by the MSP, calls on the Scottish Government to act immediately in light of the “serious patient safety issues raised in recent inspection reports.”
The party’s push comes amid mounting concern over staff shortages, leadership issues, and a “culture of mistrust” within some maternity units, as highlighted in inspection reports and in The Herald's coverage of the South Scotland maternity crisis.
Last week, inspectors raised “serious concerns” about maternity services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s report detailed a series of issues at the hospital, including a “suboptimal skill mix”, low staffing levels and “evidence of medication errors occurring involving student midwives”.
In response, Health Secretary Neil Gray announced the creation of a new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.
A previous inspection at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee raised concerns about staff shortages and delays in assessing expectant mothers, among a series of safety concerns.
The health secretary has previously told The Herald the Scottish Government has chosen to "act now rather than wait for a lengthy review."
Neil Gray said: "Independent, unannounced inspections by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) are identifying issues on the ground and driving improvements immediately.
“This programme is working exactly as intended — identifying where improvements are needed and holding services to account. Rigorous scrutiny demonstrates our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement."
Mr Gray stressed the safety and wellbeing of mothers and their babies remains the Scottish Government's priority and said that staff are "being supported and enabled to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to families."
He added: “Our approach focuses on delivering change where it matters most — locally — with national oversight from the Scottish Government and HIS. We have commissioned HIS to develop new national standards for maternity care, which will be published shortly, and are establishing a Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, to bring together service users, frontline staff, and senior health leaders.
“The major difference in our approach, compared to the rest of the UK, is that HIS works directly with boards to address requirements and recommendations, providing improvement support and robust follow-up. By contrast, it remains unclear what improvements and learning will come from the NHS England and NHS Wales maternity reviews.”
