By Eniola Amadu
A national investigation into maternity services is set to be conducted in Scotland, according to the BBC.
This comes after a BBC Disclosure investigation report revealing families, experts, and NHS staff demanding the improvement of maternity safety in the country.
The Scottish government has disclosed that it would create a professional maternity and neonatal taskforce after an investigation into the maternity care at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The maternity ward is one of the busiest in the UK.
Health Secretary Neil Gray pointed out that he “nearly lost” his wife during pregnancy due to “inaccurate assessments”.
He asserted that the taskforce would give ear to “women’s experiences of maternity services” and “the voice of frontline midwives”.
After pressure from bereaved parents, MSPs and health experts, ministers have confirmed that the taskforce will consider the scope of a national review and assess whether it should examine cultural issues as well as the design and delivery of services.
The Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Jackie Baillie, said: “The heartbreaking truth is too many women and babies are being let down by dangerously overstretched maternity and neonatal services.”
The Public Health Minister, Jenny Minto, informed MSPs saying she would “seek to define from the taskforce how an investigation can take place.”
Health Secretary Gray, during the Holyrood debate, mentioned that he had visited one of the victims and committed to visiting others.
“I put on record once again, at the outset, my deepest condolences to those that are here and my thanks to them for their bravery in speaking up about their personal experiences,” he said to the MSPs.
He added that he is aware of “how difficult that will have been but it helps to ensure that we can learn and make improvements, so I am very, genuinely, very grateful to them for that and I would be happy to meet with them if that is possible.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservative health spokesman, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, expressed that “The BBC Disclosure investigation raised grave concerns about maternity care in Scotland – including dangerously low staffing levels, a culture of fear and a refusal to learn from mistakes.
“Health boards must be held fully accountable – and this review needs to happen fast.”
