£60 THE PRICE OF A BABY’S LIFE
Pregnant Scots miss out on simple but crucial blood test
Leading doctors are urging the NHS in Scotland to introduce a life- saving test already offered to mums-to-be in England.
A £ 60 test for pre- eclampsia has been introduced south of the border but not in Scotland, where the potentially- lethal condition affects more than 2,500 pregnant women every year.
Severe pre- eclampsia can risk the lives of mums- to- be and their babies and professor James Walker, who drew up national treatment guidelines, said: “This test is invaluable and can stop women and babies dying. It should be offered in Scotland.”
Pre- eclampsia victim Laura Penman, who recovered after falling seriously ill while pregnant with son Jack, said: “Any test which warns of this in pregnancy must be rolled out in Scotland.”
Scottish mums-to-be are being denied a new £80 test for a potentially lethal condition threatening both them and their unborn babies.
A new blood test for the condition called preeclampsia is being rolled out in England – but not Scotland, despite experts fearing pregnant women north of the border are more at risk.
Pre-eclampsia affects more than 2,500 pregnancies in Scotland every year.
Mum s-to-be with the condition suffer dangerously high blood pressure, which can damage vital organs, cause strokes and mean their babies develop more slowly in the womb.
It also affects blood flow to the womb, meaning unborn babies whose mothers are most badly affected can die in the womb or must be born prematurely, leaving them fighting for their lives in intensive care wards.
First-time mums and mums-to-be who are diabetic, obese or with a small-for-date baby are among those most at risk. Six months ago the new
‘ We can treat it but we need to identify mums at risk – Professor Andrew Shennan This test can stop women and babies dying. It is invaluable and should be offered to Scots mums
– Professor James Walker
test – the placental growth factor test ( PLGF) – was approved by England’ s National Institute of Clinical Excellence after research revealed it substantially speeds up diagnosis times, allowing doctors to act earlier and more effectively.
NHS England has said it will now be available in ever y area of the country while, in Scotland, the NHS has still to launch a proposed trial.
The test measures the level of protein in the blood, which is lower among women who have pre-eclampsia.
The test costs between £ 60 and £ 80 and obstetricians argue it is cost-effective when weighed against the impact of care for mums and babies who become ill when not diagnosed.
Previously, the condition has been uncovered by a combination of blood pressure checks and urine tests, but this can take several days. And during this time the risks increase.
A leading obstetrician, Professor James Walker, who drew up the national guidelines for treating pre-eclampsia, said :“It should be offered to Scottish mums.”
He said the test means women with pre-eclampsia
are identified sooner, allowing earlier treatment.
“Between 10% to 15% of mothers might be eligible for the test with 3% to 4% of women flagging up as needing medical intervention,” he said.
“The incidence of the pre-eclampsia has not improved but techniques treating and recognising it early have.
“You can reduce the risks and stop women and babies dying. That’s why the test is invaluable.”
Professor Walker, a Scot, who is emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Leeds University, said :“If pre-eclampsia goes unrecognised and untreated, both mother and baby are at risk.
He said that, from his own experience, Scottish women suffer from a higher rate of the condition. “There appears to be a higher incidence in Scotland, especially the west of Scotland,” he said. “It runs in families.”
Professor Walker’s plea to have the test introduced in Scotland is backed by Professor Andrew Shennan, chairman of the charity, Action On Pre-eclampsia, who said: “Early detection with the PLGF test improves outcomes for mothers.
“We can treat preeclampsia with a low- dose aspirin but we do need to identify mums at risk.”
He said: “Risk factors for pre-eclampsia are having a first baby, abdominal pain, overweight mums, small for dates babies and those with diabetes in pregnancy.
“Obese mums are three times at risk.”
Scottish Government statistics show that one in five mums is now obese at the time of their first antenatal appointment.
Research by Imperial College London shows that about 1,000 babies die every year as a result of pre-eclampsia.
Action on Pre-eclampsia says the impact on mothers can last for the rest of their lives.
Marcus Green, chief executive of the charity, said: “The PLGF test offers mums and their babies a greater chance of survival.
“We urge the Scottish Government to make it available as soon as possible to mothers.
“The risks to mums and their babies is considerable when it goes undiagnosed.”
Scottish M PP a tricia Gibson lost a baby son, Kenneth, after developing pre-eclampsia in 2009. She said in a parliamentary debate on baby loss in May: “My personal interest in this issue ( baby deaths) was sparked by the death of my son Kenneth, who was stillborn two days after his due date, after his birth was delayed while he was still alive and healthy.
“No reason was given for that delay; in fact, when I reported back to the hospital the same day in terrible pain – a few hours after being told my baby would not be delivered that day as planned – I faced obstruction and argument.
“I was repeatedly told to go home as there was nothing wrong.
“How that could have been established when I had not been examined was a question that was never answered, then or since?
“My husband insisted that I be admitted to hospital. I was later informed that had he not done so, I would certainly have died.”
The Scottish Government said: “We recognise it’s essential to ensure pre-eclampsia is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
“As part of developing an evidence base in this area, NHS Lothian intends to take part in a trial which will look at the benefits of repeated testing of the PLGF test in the care of pregnant women.
“Work on developing a women’s health group is progressing.
“It will prioritise the testing for pre-eclampsia in its workplan, looking at recent evidence.”