Christine McCourt has been appointed to lead a review into improving maternity services across Scotland following a series of problems in the country’s maternity services. 

Maternal and child health expert Christine McCourt is to lead a review into improving maternity services across Scotland.

She will examine how maternity services can better meet women’s needs across the country, including how care is provided in rural and island areas. This will include specific review of services in Caithness, Elgin and Wigtownshire. The review will also address the higher maternal mortality rates of Black and Asian women, informed directly by the voices of Black and Asian women.

McCourt will review how NHS boards engage meaningfully with their communities on decisions they make about maternity services.

“This independent review fulfils a commitment we made for our first 100 days in government. It will build on improvements already being made in the NHS, including the maternity standards launched earlier this year. It will be carried out at pace and completed within nine months,” said health secretary Angela Constance. 

Little improvement

Problems in maternity healthcare in Scotland have shown little sign of improvement, with a damning report published in June by Healthcare Improvement Scotland into Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

While much attention has been on the shortcomings of English maternity units and the investigation headed by Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos, new maternity standards were published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland in March. 

“They set out a blueprint for what good maternity care looks like and detail the levels of high-quality care and support that all women should expect to receive before, during and after birth,” said Melissa Dowdeswell, director of nursing and integrated care at Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

The intention is to complete on-site inspections of Scotland’s eight major maternity units by the end of the summer, but so far, all of the hospitals that have been investigated have come up short.

“Positive maternity experiences and outcomes are vital for our health and wellbeing. I look forward to listening and learning from families and communities across Scotland, as well as from those who provide dedicated care in our NHS,” said McCourt.

“This will help draw out lessons for maternity and neonatal services and contribute to ensuring the best possible care for all,” she added.