Plans to deliver 500 more births at Raigmore Hospital "not sufficient" according to Highland MSP

PROPOSALS to upgrade the maternity unity at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness would not be sufficient to deliver the additional labour suite spaces expected, according to a Highland MSP.

If a £9 million NHS Highland maternity masterplan is realised, 500 more women a year would be able to give birth in the Inverness hospital, NHS Highland announced.

However, conservative MSP Edward Mountain questioned the The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health & Social Care replied on how Raigmore would cope with the new figures.

He asked during health portfolio questions at Holyrood: “NHS Highland are spending £9m to expand Raigmore’s maternity unit, with the help of a £5 million allocation from the Scottish Government. Can the Cabinet Secretary explain how Raigmore, as it was explained at the Board Meeting yesterday, will cope with an estimated 500 extra births per year when the updated unit, when built, will only increase capacity by 1 additional bed space in the labour suite area?"

The Cabinet Secretary replied: “The plan for a networked model of maternity care in the North, approved in March 2023 envisages women from Moray being able to choose to birth in Raigmore from 2025.

"I’m expecting to receive the revised business case as I previously mentioned from Highland shortly and although I’m aware that it was discussed at the Highland Board meeting yesterday and is available online, I will consider it fully and look at the points the member has raised once it is submitted.”

Previously he said that in this plan, Raigmore will continue to accept around 1 to 2 women per week who require emergency transfer in labour from Dr Gray’s in Elgin and it is expected that Moray women can choose to birth in Raigmore in addition to Dr Gray’s or Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.

Following the exchange, Mr Mountain said:“It appears to me that the Scottish Government is not preparing Raigmore sufficiently to deliver 500 extra births from 2025.

“Up to £9 million could be spent on a project that only produces one extra bed in the labour suite – numbers that don’t seem to add up to me.

“I’m therefore disappointed that the Minister was not up to speed on NHS Highland’s proposals and was unable to offer any judgement on them."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.