7th October 2003

Review Maternity Services across the whole of Scotland, says UNISON

Scotland's largest health care union, UNISON, today called on the Scottish Executive to review maternity services on a Scottish-wide basis following Greater Glasgow Health Board's decision to close either the Queen Mothers Maternity Hospital, or the Southern General Hospital's Maternity Unit.

"The options announced today by Greater Glasgow Health Board are flawed", said Jim Devine, UNISON's Scottish Organiser for Health.

"Decisions relating to maternity services are being taken in near isolation, on a Board by Board basis. Consequently, Argyll and Clyde are proposing to centralise maternity services in Paisley, whilst Glasgow, may well centralise their services, probably at the Southern General Hospital merely 10 minutes away from Paisley. At the same time, Forth Valley Health Board is considering centralising their maternity services in Falkirk, and Fife Health Board is centralising services in Kirkcaldy, a hundred miles away.

"Maternity services have also been reviewed in Ayrshire. Recently, the wife of a good friend of mine had a baby in Ayrshire Central. Within one hour she was being asked to go home, as they had no maternity beds available.

"Hard decisions have to be taken on the future of maternity services in Scotland. However, these decisions should not be taken in isolation by individual boards. That is why we are calling today on the Scottish Executive to place a moratorium on any closures and produce a Scottish maternity strategy.

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Jim Devine, Scottish Organiser 0845 355 0845(w) 07876 441239(m)

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