Ministers to order investigation into maternity services

A national investigation into maternity services in Scotland is to be carried out, the BBC understands.

Ministers have indicated that the review will happen when an expert health group assesses how best to conduct it.

It comes after a BBC Disclosure investigation heard calls from families, NHS staff and experts for urgent action to improve maternity safety across the country.

Parents featured in the documentary who lost their babies in Scottish hospitals had demanded an inquiry into maternity services.

Following a damning report into maternity care at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, one of the busiest maternity units in the UK, the Scottish government announced last week that it would set up an expert maternity and neonatal taskforce.

Health Secretary Neil Gray, who revealed that he "nearly lost" his wife during pregnancy after "inaccurate assessments", said the taskforce would listen to "women's experiences of maternity services" and also "the voice of frontline midwives".

Following pressure from bereaved parents, MSPs and health experts, ministers have since confirmed that the taskforce will consider the scope of a national review and examine whether to look into problems with culture alongside the design and delivery of services.

The government confirmed that commitment after a Labour debate at Holyrood calling for a national investigation, with families featured in the Disclosure documentary attending parliament.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "The heartbreaking truth is too many women and babies are being let down by dangerously overstretched maternity and neonatal services."

Health Secretary Neil Gray offered his condolences to bereaved families

During the debate, Green MSP Patrick Harvie sought assurances that the government would order an investigation.

Public Health Minister Jenny Minto told MSPs that she would "seek to define from the taskforce how an investigation can take place".

Julie Keegan and Angus McLean, whose three-day-old baby Mason died in Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children in 2023, were among those who attended parliament.

Mason died of sepsis and related feeding issues but staff had failed to notice how sick he was.

After hearing of similar stories from other parents in different parts of the country, Julie called for a public inquiry.

"I think it does really show that families do need to be taken seriously and need to be listened to instead of a sort of tick the box exercise," she told BBC Scotland News.

Julie said that people's lives had been "ruined" and that there needed to be "more accountability for the things that have happened".

Julie McLean has called for an inquiry following the death of her son Mason

Earlier in the Holyrood debate, Gray said he had met one of the parents who attended parliament and offered to meet other affected families.

He told MSPs: "I put on record once again, at the outset, my deepest condolences to those that are here and my thanks to them for their bravery in speaking up about their personal experiences.

"I know how difficult that will have been but it helps to ensure that we can learn and make improvements so I am very, genuinely, very grateful to them for that and I would be happy to meet with them if that is possible."

Gray said he wanted to reassure families that maternity and neonatal services were safe in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: "The BBC Disclosure investigation raised grave concerns about maternity care in Scotland – including dangerously low staffing levels, a culture of fear and a refusal to learn from mistakes.

"Health boards must be held fully accountable – and this review needs to happen fast."

A national investigation is a significant win for the parents who have shared their sometimes distressing personal experiences of maternity services.

The Scottish government's position seemed to develop during the parliamentary debate.

They started willing to have the investigation if their maternity taskforce led by health minister Jenny Minto recommended it.

But when the minister told parliament "I will seek to define from the taskforce how an investigation can take place" that was her nuanced way of confirming there will be a national investigation.

It will be for experts on the taskforce to decide on its shape and form and that will take a little time.

My expectation is that the investigation will also take into account the inspection work of the watchdog Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

It is understood that ministers will communicate next steps with opposition spokespeople on Thursday.

While the national investigation will not begin immediately, ministers do not want to hang about.

It would be no surprise if it was set up and under way before Holyrood breaks for the 2026 election.