Campaigners in Caithness are calling for Scotland’s independent maternity services review to fully examine the loss of consultant led maternity services in the Far North and the impact the changes have had on women and their families.
In a joint letter from Caithness Health Action Team, Caithness MP Jamie Stone and MSP David Green, Professor Christine McCourt has been urged to visit Caithness to see first hand the challenges many expectant mothers face when travelling to give birth at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
The Scottish Government announced in June that Professor McCourt would lead a review into maternity services across Scotland following years of campaigning and a vote in the Scottish Parliament backing an independent review of services in Caithness.
Consultant led maternity services were withdrawn from Caithness General Hospital in 2016, leaving many women facing a trip of around 100 miles along the A9 to access maternity care in Inverness.
Campaigners are asking for the review to move forward quickly, publish a clear timetable and ensure local communities play a meaningful role throughout the process.
According to the campaigners, only six babies were born at Caithness General Hospital during 2025, while the Scottish Human Rights Commission warned in 2024 that maternity services in the Far North raised serious concerns around accessibility and availability.
David Green MSP said:
“I welcome Professor McCourt as this review’s independent chair, a role we have fought hard to secure.
“We need the review to move with pace, openness and put the voices of women and communities across the Far North at its heart.
“A journey of up to 100 miles to give birth is not simply a question of distance, it impacts safety, choice, and family life.
“This review must be more than an opportunity to gather evidence.
“It must lead to meaningful action and ensure that maternity services in Caithness are shaped around the needs of women and their families.”
Jamie Stone MP added:
“This review is an important opportunity to right a long standing wrong for families in Caithness.
“After years of campaigning, it is vital that it moves quickly, listens to local people and properly examines the case for restoring consultant led maternity services.
“Too many women are still being forced to travel long distances to give birth.
“That simply cannot continue.
“I will keep working alongside my colleague David Green and the local campaigners at CHAT until families in the Far North have the safe, local maternity care they deserve.”
Ron Gunn, Chair of Caithness Health Action Team, said:
“Since the downgrading of our maternity services in 2016, CHAT has met with numerous NHS Highland Chief Executives, Scottish Cabinet Secretaries for Health, and other government ministers, informing them that the current maternity model is simply not working for the mums and families of Caithness.
“We have repeatedly asked, without ever receiving an answer, why so many of our mums to be have to travel 110 miles on the hazardous A9 to Inverness to give birth, in all weathers and road conditions.
“Every single year since 2016, over 90% of North mums to be have had to make the journey south.
“After years of campaigning for an independent review, we are delighted to hear that Professor McCourt has been appointed as Chair.”
