A controversial shake-up of maternity services in Caithness is poised to go ahead despite a series high-profile blunders involving young mothers.
A review of Caithness General Hospital, published yesterday, recommended its downgrade from a consultant-led service to a “midwife-led community maternity unit”.
It also called for Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to be “strengthened” to provide round-the-clock obstetric, neonatal and senior midwifery support.
The review was commissioned by Highland medical director Dr Roderick Harvey and conducted by the region’s health director Professor Hugo van Woerden with input from various experts.
It followed the death of a baby from the e.coli sepsis infection just 40 hours after she was born at the hospital last year.
After the tragedy, the threshold was lowered for expectant mothers to be transferred to the more advanced pediatric facilities at Raigmore Hospital.
But a series of alarming cases have emerged in recent months as more mums have to make the 100-mile journey from Caithness to Inverness.
Wick mother Emma Edwards reported a series of mishaps when she gave birth to her daughter Karmen, culminating in her child being left with a one-and-a-half inch scar after a surgeon sliced open her head during a botched caesarian section at Raigmore in June.
And just a few weeks ago Eilidh McIntosh from Thurso endured a “nightmare” ambulance journey to the Highland capital, which ended with her having to give birth at Golspie with minutes to spare.
Unveiling his recommendations, Prof van Woerden said that since October 2015, Caithness General had acted as a community maternity unit, which he added had worked safely elsewhere in Highland.
The report said that NHS Highland is “committed to ongoing discussions with families and local groups about how local service, transport and access to homely accommodation in Inverness can be improved”.
The recommendations made in the public health report will now be considered by Dr Harvey who is expected to report to NHS Highland’s next board meeting on November 29.
Caithness Health Action Team, which was formed to fight for improved services in the region, said that the review raised more questions than answers, raising particular concerns that Caithness General could lose its consultants and the ability to perform elective or emergency caesarean sections.
It said: “Caithness Health Action Team has expressed numerous concerns over the proposed new maternity model, believing that patient safety will be compromised unless transport services and emergency obstetric cover are greatly enhanced.”
Local SNP MSP Gail Ross last week discussed services for expectant woman in Caithness with Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison, the chief medical officer and head of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
She said: “This report makes for sombre reading, highlighting the current model of care is falling unacceptably short of the standards that mothers and babies should expect.
“The focus now has to be on NHS Highland to deliver on the report’s recommendations.
“They must also deliver high quality training and improvements of services in Raigmore for mothers, babies and families. And staff need to be adequately supported.”