Scotland Maternity Review Head Promises to Listen to Parents

Professor Christine McCourt, the head of a major review into Scotland's maternity services, has reassured parents, particularly those who have experienced bereavement, that their voices will be heard and valued as part of the work. This assurance comes amid concerns from families that the "forward-looking" nature of the national review might overlook their experiences of being failed by the NHS.

McCourt stated that engaging with a diverse range of individuals will be crucial for "drawing the right lessons for improvement." The Scottish government has committed to considering the "direct experiences of women, families and staff at every level of care" within the review, which commenced this week and is scheduled to deliver its findings next summer.

The review was initiated a year ago following a BBC Disclosure investigation that brought to light significant failings in maternity care across Scotland. One such case highlighted was that of Lori Quate, whose wife Jacqui Hunter died in 2020 during childbirth, delivering a stillborn daughter, Olivia. An NHS review suggested that an overdose of a labor-inducing drug may have contributed to Jacqui's death.

Lori Quate expressed concern that the review's "forward-looking" approach might limit the involvement of families who have endured such traumatic experiences. He emphasized that cases like Jacqui and Olivia's exemplify the systemic issues within the healthcare system. "How are they going to face forwards if they're not willing to hear from the families?" he questioned.

As a professor of maternal and child health, McCourt stressed the importance of hearing from parents with both positive and negative experiences. "It's not part of our remit to investigate individual cases," she clarified, "But there's a great potential to learn from people's experience, especially if you actually talk to a range of people."

The review will also examine systemic pressures such as staffing shortages, with McCourt asserting the review's independence will allow for frank assessments. "You can't run an effective health service with staff who are excessively anxious, as well as not having the right mix of staff and the right numbers of staff," she noted.

McCourt acknowledged that while lessons from inquiries in England and other parts of the UK would be considered, Scotland presents unique challenges. These include a more dispersed population, particularly in rural areas, requiring distinct approaches to healthcare delivery. "So there are going to be things that are quite distinct about Scotland, as well as the fact that you do have devolution in the health system."

The Scottish government has also indicated the review will address inequalities, such as higher maternal death rates among Black and Asian women, and will pay specific attention to maternity services in areas like Caithness, Elgin, and Wigtownshire, where local services have been subjects of longstanding campaigns for improvement. Claire Fleming, whose nearest maternity unit closed in 2018, necessitating a 70-mile journey for childbirth, shared her hope that the review would lead to tangible action on essential services, even if full reinstatement of local services is unlikely.

Health Secretary Angela Constance affirmed that while most care is good, the experiences of families who felt let down must inform improvements. The independent review will run concurrently with ongoing inspections of all acute maternity units in Scotland. Details for patients and staff wishing to contribute to the review are available online.