Understand
Head of Scottish maternity review reassures families their voices will be heard
Overview
The professor leading an independent review into maternity services in Scotland has assured bereaved parents and families that their experiences will be listened to. The review, which started this week and will report back next summer, follows concerns from families that a forward-looking approach might ignore past failings. While the review will not investigate individual cases, chair Professor Christine McCourt stated that talking to a range of people is valuable for identifying systemic issues, drawing patterns, and learning lessons. The Scottish government commissioned the review following previous investigations into maternity care failings across Scotland.
Key points
- Professor Christine McCourt, chair of the independent review of maternity services in Scotland, has reassured parents that their voices will be heard.
- Families had previously expressed concern that a forward-looking review would fail to account for past NHS failings.
- The review will not investigate individual cases but will look at patterns and direct experiences from women, families, and staff.
- The review was ordered by ministers following a BBC Disclosure investigation highlighting failings in maternity care across Scotland.
- The review will also consider distinct Scottish challenges, such as rural accessibility, staffing pressures, and specific campaigns in regions like Caithness, Elgin, and Wigtownshire.