Sarwar will reverse ‘neonatal downgrade plans’ if he becomes first minister

Labour’s Anas Sarwar has vowed to reverse “downgrade plans” for neonatal services that care for some of Scotland’s sickest babies if he becomes first minister.

He vowed he would “protect quality neonatal services” if next month’s Holyrood election sees Labour defeat the SNP.

It comes as campaigners have been battling to prevent “award winning” services at University Hospital Wishaw from being downgraded.

A petition submitted to Holyrood argued that Scottish Government plans to centralise care at three specialist units in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen could “place additional stress on expectant parents and premature babies”.

Meanwhile, Mr Sarwar said such plans showed that the “NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP”.

Speaking ahead of campaigning on the issue in the run-up to May’s Scottish election, the Labour leader told voters: “If you want to fix the NHS, save Wishaw neonatal unit and protect quality neonatal services in Dundee, Glasgow, Kirkcaldy and Kilmarnock, vote Scottish Labour.”

Adding that having a baby in neonatal intensive care is a “terrifying experience for any parent”, Mr Sarwar said: “Families should be able to stay close to their baby, close to their loved ones and close to the support networks they rely on.

“But under the SNP’s plans, families in Dundee, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Fife and Ayrshire risk being pushed further away from care at the most frightening and emotional time of their lives.

“That is not fair, and it is not good enough.”

Mr Sarwar continued: “I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“A Scottish Labour government I lead will reverse these downgrade plans, pause centralisation, and put patients and families first.”

Appealing to voters, he urged them to give Labour five years at Holyrood to “fix the mess”.

The Scottish Labour leader insisted: “The SNP have had 20 years and our public services are paying the price. Give me five and I can fix the mess and deliver the change Scotland needs.”

Clare Adamson, SNP candidate for Motherwell and Wishaw, said: “The decision to move to three national neonatal intensive care units has been made following strong evidence and advice from expert clinicians that the new model will improve chances of survival for the smallest and sickest babies.

“This is a very small number of babies per year from this area and is a model backed by leading charity for premature babies Bliss.

“No neonatal units are closing and the local neonatal unit at University Hospital Wishaw will continue to provide care to the vast majority of babies who need it, including a level of intensive care.

“The very small number of babies who are moved will also return to Wishaw as soon as possible to resume their care and importantly their families will receive financial support through the SNP’s young patient family fund to be with them in Glasgow.”