An Elgin mum who was “shipped” between four hospitals during a high-risk pregnancy has spoken out about her “rollercoaster” ordeal.
Natasha Sherwin lost her waters when she was 16-weeks pregnant, requiring her to visit Dr Gray’s every week for check-ups and scans.
At the end of November she was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, as doctors feared she was about to go into labour at just 24 weeks.
While it turned out to be a false alarm, the expectant mum did not have much time to rest.
Over the following months, she was transferred between hospitals four more times before giving birth.
“I was upset,” Mrs Sherwin said. “I felt that, with it being such a high risk pregnancy. I wouldn’t have been shipped here, there and everywhere.
“I kept going further and further away from my son as well.
“I didn’t see him for almost three months.”
Just days after arriving in Dundee, Mrs Sherwin was sent up to Aberdeen due to a lack of cots, as medical staff again worried she was going into early labour.
When the baby didn’t arrive, she was sent back south where she spent Christmas and Hogmanay, then spent four days in a hospital in Wishaw.
In the end, Mrs Sherwin gave birth to her 2lb 13oz daughter Faith in Dundee on January 12, 10 weeks early.
She added: “I felt bad for the ambulance service, as they had to take me everywhere.
“I felt I was fit enough to just get my husband to take me.
“It was a bit of an ordeal, that’s for sure. But I totally respect that in emergency situations, things like this can happen.”
Faith was able to go home at the start of March, but is now on life support in Edinburgh Sick Kids after a chest infection collapsed her lungs.
While she had intended to seek treatment for her daughter closer to home, Mrs Sherwin said it was not an option as the Elgin children’s ward closes at 10pm.
She said: “We’ve had a bumpy ride but she’s getting better every day.
“All of the staff have been absolutely amazing.”
North-east Scottish Conservative MSP Peter Chapman described it as a “horrendous ordeal”.
He said: “I’m sure that most people would want to be treated as close to home as possible.
“It is not uncommon for patients in Elgin to be referred into Aberdeen for specialist treatment but I am surprised to hear in this case the woman was sent as far as Dundee and apparently Wishaw.
“I hope that NHS Grampian can provide some reassurance to the public that is not a regular occurrence.”
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: “In rare cases, when cots are not available in the home region, then it is common practice for neonatal units to take babies from other areas to ensure they are given the very best in the specialist care they need.
“The neonatal community across the country works very closely together, and indeed is soon to become one national network.
“This will mean there is consistency in the high standards of care delivered to women who may need to go outwith their home region.”
