Concern as special care unit delayed
A specialist unit for new mothers suffering mental health problems has been delayed by Scottish Government budget cuts, campaigners warn.
Ministers told MSPS in January that a mother and baby unit in the northeast was being actively considered but, within weeks, announced all NHS Scotland building projects were frozen for two years.
The Sunday Post exposed a postcode lottery in perinatal mental health care last month with the only specialist mother and baby NHS facility in the Central Belt and worrying gaps in care.
A petition by Margaret Reid, whose sister suffered severe perinatal mental health problems, calls for better specialist care and will be discussed by MSPS on Wednesday.
Her MSP, Tess White, has supported her campaign but says the petition was lodged a year ago and the delay and lack of action since then has been dismaying. She said:
“Margaret has shared with me her concern and frustration that the Scottish Government seems no further forward on progressing these issues.
“More than one in five women will experience a perinatal mental health problem, so it is vital there is the right support in place, wherever you live and for as long as it is needed.”
White warned the freeze in NHS Scotland spending will mean slow progress being made to secure better services for women suffering conditions, including postnatal depression, anxiety disorders, and postpartum psychosis, is in danger of stalling.
The Scottish Government said: “We have made substantial investment in perinatal and infant mental health services since 2019, with investment of over £10 million in this year alone.
“This funding is delivering improvements to perinatal and infant mental health services and support for parents, infants and families in every health board area in Scotland.”