National maternity review will take place, Scottish Government confirms

The Scottish Government has confirmed a nationwide review into maternity services will go ahead.

Ministers appear to have changed their mind on a national probe less than 24 hours after the Health Secretary failed to commit to one.

In a motion passed by MSPs earlier this week, Neil Gray told Parliament a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services would take place only if Scotland’s new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce recommends it.

On Thursday, public health minister Jenni Minto confirmed the change, saying in a letter to party spokespeople the taskforce will now decide on the scope of the review.

Labour welcomed the change but said it came just a day after SNP MSPs voted against the party’s calls for a national inquiry.

Deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie, who is the party’s health spokeswoman, said: “It is right that SNP ministers have finally listened to the families and the experts and agreed to carry out this important work.

“It is crucial that this investigation goes ahead with the urgency needed and covers both maternity and neonatal care.

“Too many women and babies have been let down when it matters most, and their experiences must be at the heart of this review.

“It is crucial that this investigation provides a clear picture of what is going on in maternity and neonatal services in Scotland, and crucially it must lead to meaningful action to improve these services.”

It follows a series of damning reports into maternity wards across several health boards.

On Wednesday, bereaved parents attended Holyrood to campaign for a national inquiry.

Julie Keegan, an ICU nurse whose three-day-old baby died after failings at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, claimed a lack of accountability meant “nobody ever faces consequences” in the NHS, even for serious errors.

“These people are letting our babies die – and they’re going to work the next day,” she told the PA news agency.

Lori Quate, whose wife and unborn daughter died in 2020, backed the calls as he said there is a lack of consequence or accountability for wrongdoing.

He said: “They can look at it, accept that that’s what’s done, and nothing changes, nothing happens – but you get to walk home with somebody less in your family.

“It’s not acceptable.”

The Health Secretary revealed last week that he himself “nearly lost” his wife after receiving “inaccurate assessments” from medics.

That came as one report into the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – one of the busiest maternity units in the UK – raised “serious concerns” about patient safety, including a “suboptimal skill mix”, low staffing levels and “evidence of medication errors occurring involving student midwives”.

Responding to Thursday’s announcement, Jaki Lambert, director of the Royal College of Midwives Scotland, said: “Women, their families and maternity staff in Scotland quite rightly want to see action to fix maternity services but this review must not become a reason for yet more delay.

“Maternity services need investment and support now, not months or years from now. What’s required today is delivery.

“Another set of recommendations will almost certainly reflect those that have already been published, but haven’t been implemented.

“We remain concerned that the inspections that will inform the scope are limited to acute care.

“Maternity care doesn’t just take place in hospitals and the review must reflect that.”