Scottish Parliament – Nov. 5, 2025 – 11

The result of the division on motion S6M-19512, in the name of Jackie Baillie, as amended, is: For 73, Against 27, Abstentions 20. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament is alarmed by the serious patient safety issues raised in recent inspection reports of maternity services;

agrees that a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services should take place if Scotland’s new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce recommends it, and that it should give full consideration to staff and patient welfare;

notes that the taskforce will review the findings of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s inspections into all maternity units in Scotland;

recognises that no neonatal unit in Scotland is closing: notes that the new model of neonatal intensive care in Scotland was recommended by the Best Start 2017 report, following robust clinical evidence on the safest and best possible model for the sickest babies;

notes that, following the downgrading of the consultant-led maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital in 2016, women in Caithness can face a 100 mile trip down the A9 to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to give birth, and calls on the Scottish Government to commission an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.