Head of Maternity Services Review Assures Bereaved Parents Their Experiences Will Inform National Review

Based on reporting by BBC UK:

Professor Christine McCourt, who chairs the major review of maternity services, has assured bereaved parents that their input will be incorporated into her work. Families had previously voiced concerns that the national review of services in Scotland might overlook how they felt let down by the NHS. The Scottish government stated that the review, which commenced this week and is scheduled to release its findings next summer, will take into account the 'direct experiences of women, families and staff at every level of care.'

The review was commissioned by ministers a year ago subsequent to a BBC Disclosure investigation that highlighted deficiencies in maternity care across Scotland. In a documentary, Lori Quate recounted his experience of losing his wife, Jacqui Hunter, in 2020. Jacqui died at Ninewells hospital in Dundee while giving birth to their stillborn daughter, Olivia, and an NHS review suggested that an overdose of a drug administered to bring on labour could have been a contributing factor to her death.

As the review commenced this week, Lori Quate expressed uncertainty regarding what would inform its conclusions. He stated that his primary worry was that the term 'forward-looking' might imply a restricted involvement of families who have endured a culture of failings. He noted that while he understands the limitations regarding individual cases when aiming to change the system, a case such as Jacqui and Olivia's exemplified systemic failures throughout the entire system.

Professor McCourt, who is a professor of maternal and child health at City St George's at the University of London, emphasized the importance of hearing from parents who hold both positive and negative views. She clarified that while investigating individual cases is outside the review's mandate, there is significant potential to learn from people's experiences, particularly when engaging with a diverse group of individuals. She suggested that by doing so, patterns could be drawn regarding the causes of poor outcomes and subsequent support provided to parents.

The review will also incorporate themes that have emerged from safety inspections of maternity units, including the necessity of listening to families, conducting thorough investigations into serious incidents, and learning from errors. Professor McCourt indicated she would not avoid addressing systemic pressures, such as staffing shortages, stating that an effective health service cannot operate with staff who are excessively anxious or lack the appropriate mix and number of personnel.

While acknowledging lessons from previous inquiries in England and other parts of the UK, Professor McCourt noted that Scotland presents unique challenges due to its more dispersed population, requiring different approaches to cater to more rural areas with smaller population concentrations compared to most of England.

Announcing the start of the review earlier this week, the Scottish government mentioned it would examine inequalities, such as the higher rates of maternal death observed among Black and Asian women. Furthermore, the review will place a 'specific focus' on maternity services in Caithness, Elgin, and Wigtownshire, areas where local service improvements have been the subject of ongoing campaigns.

Claire Fleming's third child, Andrew, was born in Dumfries, which is 70 miles from her residence outside Stranraer, following the closure of the local maternity unit in 2018. She mentioned that she traveled that distance even for brief antenatal appointments. She does not anticipate the review will result in the complete reinstatement of a 24-hour maternity service in Stranraer. She stated that while she understands recruitment constraints for midwives and staff, she believes it is crucial that fundamental services are being adequately provided in Wigtownshire, and she hopes the review will prompt action on this matter, noting her efforts campaigning for over five years.

Health Secretary Angela Constance commented that the independent review would operate alongside ongoing inspections of every acute maternity unit in Scotland, adding that while most mothers receive good care, she has heard from families who felt let down, and their experiences must inform improvements.