Midwifery cuts

I was very saddened to read about the preventable death of baby Nevaeh Stewart ,who died three-and-a-half hours after being born in a birthing pool at Montrose Royal Infirmary’s Community Midwifery Unit in September 2012, (Scotsman, 6 February).

A sheriff at a fatal enquiry ruled that “the standard of care given was contributory to her death”.

More specifically, he condemned the policy that in midwifery units “there is no emergency response” and, indeed, if a baby in a midwifery unit becomes ill and needs a doctor’s intervention or an ambulance, they “may have to wait up to six hours as there is no emergency squad to go to any midwifery unit in Scotland”.

In Nevaeh’s case, the sheriff ruled that “more precise and evidence-based information about birth site choice” would be helpful to all expectant parents and could no doubt reduce infant mortality.

Last year, Shona Robison, the Scottish Government Health Minister, decreed that all Scottish expectant mothers should have either home births or have their babies delivered in midwifery hubs with, possibly, birthing pools, but with no on-site doctor or dedicated ambulance for emergency situations.

It is obvious that Ms Robison’s midwifery proposals are little more than a cost cutting exercise by the Scottish Government.

I am so grateful that my children could be born in an enlightened age, when safe delivery in a NHS hospital with specialist doctor care was readily available and not state rationed. SALLY GORDON-WALKER Caiystane Drive

Edinburgh