A final report into the death of a newborn baby at a Highland hospital is due to be sent to Scottish ministers by the end of the summer.
It follows a review by health experts to Caithness General Hospital and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness last week.
It follows the death of a baby girl at the Wick facility in September last year.
She died just 40 hours after being born of the e.coli sepsis infection.
It sparked a major investigation, with the external review the latest stage of the exercise.
During the visit, the team met a wide range of clinicians and managers at both hospitals as well as staff from Scottish Ambulance Service.
The team is made up of Dr Brian Magowan, obstetrician and gynaecologist, NHS Borders, Dr Jane Macdonnell, consultant paediatrician, NHS Borders, Nicky Berry, head of midwifery, NHS Borders and Professor Chris Kelnar, retired Professor of paediatric endocrinology, University of Edinburgh.
At Caithness General they visited the maternity unit to gain an understanding of facilities and equipment available to staff.
The threshold for sending expectant mothers to more advanced paediatric facilities at Raigmore has been lowered since the tragedy.
The review currently being carried out will inform the future arrangements for neonatal care at Caithness General.
The health board it is “possible” that the findings may also impact on the future of other services.
Dr Hugo Van Woerden, NHS Highland’s director of public health, who is leading the public health review overseeing review to the report stage, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to secure such a strong external review team.
“The key purpose of this external inspection is to satisfy both the local population and the NHS Highland board that the current systems and processes in Caithness General Hospital can ensure the safe care of newborns. The review will consider the unique challenges faced by the hospital and its system of obstetric care without co-located paediatric expertise, or paediatric support available within 30 minutes.”
A final report is expected to be submitted to the Scottish Government’s health minister Shona Robison by the end of this summer.
