Home / Health / Maternity Crisis: Families Demand Inquiry
Maternity Crisis: Families Demand Inquiry
1 Nov
Summary
- Bereaved parents in Glasgow are demanding a public inquiry into baby and mother deaths.
- An independent review of maternity services started last month, but families deem it insufficient.
- Common themes in maternity units include staffing shortages and care delays.
Bereaved parents have united in Glasgow to demand a public inquiry into the deaths of mothers and babies throughout Scotland. A nine-month independent review into the nation's maternity services commenced last month following a BBC investigation into poor and often fatal care. However, families who have lost children due to alleged failures insist the current review will not go far enough, seeking justice and accountability.
Families cite specific instances of critical care failures. For example, the parents of Mason Scott McLean, who died at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in 2023 after a series of errors, are still seeking answers years later. An internal review by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde acknowledged "several systematic issues" possibly contributing to his death. Another campaigner lost his wife and child within 24 hours in 2020, after his wife was administered an excessive dose of medication during labour.
The independent review, chaired by Professor Christine McCourt, is scheduled to submit its findings and recommendations in July 2027. Common themes identified in unannounced inspections of maternity units include staffing shortages, delays in care for pregnant women, and inadequate investigations when incidents occur. Health Secretary Angela Constance affirmed commitment to lasting improvements, emphasizing that the experiences of families are central to the review's focus on systemic changes.
