MP Jamie Stone has delivered a damning indictment of the current Maternity Model in Caithness, in a hard-hitting article in the Caithness Courier today (081123).
Referring to the Scottish Government’s “Best Start” scheme, he said that the situation faced by mums in Caithness was a “recipe for tragedy” and added that “I certainly would not call this the “Best Start”. I would call this Medieval”.
He goes on to say – echoing exactly what CHAT maintain – that we need a system based on the “Orkney Model”, thus allowing the majority of mothers to give birth in Caithness, with only a minority then having to endure the journey to Raigmore. He also speaks of a “severe and dangerous neglect of the Highlands”
Chair, Ron Gunn, also speaks out strongly, emphasising also the issues with the A9 and the dangers if it is closed – something which has happened several times recently.
It is almost beyond belief that CHAT has to fight constantly to secure the basic human rights of mothers, newborn babies, and many other patients in Caithness, to secure their basic human rights – but rest assured that CHAT will continue to do just that.
Caithness Health Action Team 