Official Report · Committee

Continued Petitions

Maternity Facilities (PE1825)

Wednesday 16 December 2020 Public Petitions Committee About 12:00 Petitions 6 contributions · 5 speakers

Speakers

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The record

6 contributions

Johann Lamont Lab The Convener · Glasgow

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We move on to the final continued petition on our agenda today. PE1825 was lodged by Louise Caldwell, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that maternity departments have dedicated facilities for women experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications.

Since the petition was previously considered in October, we have received submissions from the Government, the Miscarriage Association, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Sands, the Scottish Early Pregnancy Network and Tommy’s. The submissions explain that the National Bereavement Care Pathway for pregnancy and baby loss has been developed in Scotland, and was launched in five early-adopter sites earlier this year.

The Scottish Government-sponsored project has developed pathways for five types of loss, one of which is miscarriage and ectopic molar pregnancy, in consultation with more than over 45 healthcare experts and 25 parent advisers. The aim of the project is to

“Ensure that the woman is cared for in the appropriate care environment by staff who are sensitive to her needs.”

As part of the pathway, NBCP bereavement care standards have been set, which national health service boards are expected to meet. One of the standards is that all units, whether in hospitals or smaller services, are expected to

“have access to a room where bereavement care can be provided in a suitable and sensitive environment.”

Do members have any comments or suggestions for action? This is a sensitive issue. There are some reassurances in the responses that we have received and it might be that we have gone as far as we can with the issue. We are providing an opportunity to highlight an issue that can be exceptionally difficult for mums and for families.

Maurice Corry Con West Scotland

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This is an extremely sensitive petition, as I think that we all understand. We thank the petitioner for raising this important issue, and for their submissions.

Since the petition was lodged, progress has been made with NHS hospitals and people’s understanding, particularly through the launch of the national bereavement care pathway for pregnancy and baby loss. The pathway sets the bereavement care standards for all NHS boards to meet—it is important that the boards meet them.

I think that we have taken the petition as far as we can. However, I have one point to add: psychological care is very important for the mother in such cases, particularly in the bereavement process. I would like to emphasise that if we can in this process, because I know how important that is.

I propose that we close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders on the basis that I have given: that we have a pathway for pregnancy and baby loss and that bereavement care standards for all NHS boards to meet have been set. However, I would hope that that would include psychological care as and when needed.

David Torrance SNP Kirkcaldy

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I agree with my colleagues. As a pathway has been developed and standards have been set for all NHS boards to meet, I am quite happy to close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders. The petitioner can always bring back the issue if they consider that any of the NHS boards have not met the standards or if there are any problems in those areas.

Tom Mason Con North East Scotland

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I agree with my colleagues. Standards have been set, which I hope all the boards will aspire to. I accept Maurice Corry’s point that the training and attitude of personnel are all-important, but clearly the physical element is important, too. Sometimes, that is more important than the physical facilities that are available.

We cannot do much more, and the fact that the issue can be brought back later should be a comfort to the petitioner if things do not go quite right. It might be that the focus is narrowed to a particular board as the standards are implemented.

Gail Ross SNP Caithness, Sutherland and Ross

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This is another really sensitive issue. Most of the organisations that we heard back from highlight the national bereavement care pathway, and I think that they are all satisfied that the physical and the psychological needs of women and families are being noted and that they are up to standard. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists also has its framework for maternity service standards.

I think that it just remains for us to thank the petitioner whole-heartedly for bringing this really important subject to the fore, and for making sure that we have a national approach and standards. It has been proven that we do.

If any of the health boards or individual healthcare facilities fall below the standards, we would certainly want to hear about that. As Tom Mason said, I encourage the petitioner, if her concerns have not been addressed through the actions taken, to bring back the issue, as is her right. I think that, as a committee, we have taken the matter as far as we can, and I am satisfied that the issues have been addressed, so I would close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders.

Johann Lamont Lab The Convener · Glasgow

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We all agree that this is a sensitive and important petition. We note the interest in it, and the seriousness with which people have responded to us. We are encouraged that there is a pathway that recognises not just physical care, but psychological care.

We agree to close the petition on that basis. We thank the petitioner very much for engaging, particularly in the circumstances in which that was done.

I suspend the meeting for four minutes.

12:10 Meeting suspended.

12:14 On resuming—

In this meeting

Everything on 16 Dec 2020 →

09:30 Decision on Taking Business in Private Procedure · 1
09:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 54
10:15 Continued Petitions Petitions · 7
10:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 10
10:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 7
10:30 Continued Petitions Petitions · 10
10:45 Continued Petitions Petitions · 6
10:45 Continued Petitions Petitions · 10
10:45 Continued Petitions Petitions · 15
11:45 Continued Petitions Petitions · 7
11:45 Continued Petitions Petitions · 6
12:00 Continued Petitions Petitions · 6
12:00 New Petitions Petitions · 10
12:30 New Petitions Petitions · 8
12:30 New Petitions Petitions · 6
12:45 New Petitions Petitions · 8

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