Swinney seeks to reassure maternity patients facing ‘long journey’ for care

John Swinney has sought to reassure patients in the Highlands and islands who face a “long and difficult journey” for maternity care.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said some women are being forced to travel more than 100 miles to give birth at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The consultant-led maternity unit in Caithness was downgraded to a midwife-led facility in 2016.

Mr Cole-Hamilton raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, and also urged the Government to commit to a new hospital on Shetland and 24/7 access for emergency care at Portree Community Hospital on Skye.

The recent Budget addressed some of the Liberal Democrats’ demands, he said.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “I want to remind the First Minister about what is going on in the far north.

“Mothers are forced to travel 100 miles through the snow and the ice to give birth in Inverness. An investigation by the Scottish Human Rights Commission received testimony that the situation is ‘barbaric’.

“Women left terrified by four-hour drives in the dark with deer on the road.

“It even heard that some have lost their fertility due to delays in accessing Raigmore in emergencies.”

Mr Swinney said the Budget took a number of steps to improve access to GPs, and he vowed to examine the situation in Portree.

He said: “The Caithness situation is a slightly different question because it is informed by assessments of patient safety – about the volume of patient cases that can be dealt with in Caithness.

“It’s not a question of investment, it is a question about the clinical safety of the service involved.”

He said he accepts patients are facing a “long and difficult journey” but said ministers must accept clinical advice.

Mr Swinney said he will continue talks with the Lib Dem leader and “try to find ways of reassuring the individuals on whose behalf Mr Cole-Hamilton raises the question today”.