The Royal College of Midwives has responded to the Scottish Government’s announcement that Scotland’s 14 territorial health boards will be dissolved and replaced by two new boards, warning that maternity services must not be lost in the reorganisation.

Jaki Lambert, RCM’s Director for Scotland, said the announcement was “thin on detail” and called for a long-term workforce plan for maternity and  no changes to maternity services while the independent review is under way.

Jaki said:

“The Scottish Government’s announcement was thin on detail and that’s not good enough for a change of this scale. The problem has never been the number of health boards – it has been the lack of value and priority given to maternity care. We’ll demand clarity from the Scottish Government and keep our members informed at every stage, so this reorganisation doesn’t come at the expense of maternity services. 

“Scotland still needs a long-term workforce plan for maternity services and midwifery-led care in communities across the country. The Independent Review of Maternity Services starts this month and must be given space to deliver real improvements with no changes made to maternity services while it’s under way. 

“Terms and conditions must remain unchanged and ‘Once for Scotland’ policies must be applied consistently. Women and families must not be an afterthought in this reform – and neither can the midwives who care for them.”