A long-awaited ministerial visit to Caithness has been secured following tireless pressure from campaigners demanding safer and more local maternity care.
Public Health and Women’s Health Minister Jenni Minto MSP will travel north to meet with concerned residents, after discussions with Far North MP Jamie Stone, Wick councillor Jan McEwan and Scottish Parliamentary candidate David Green.
The trip marks a critical moment in a decade-long struggle to reinstate fully functional maternity services in the region.
Since Caithness General’s maternity unit was downgraded nearly ten years ago, most expectant mothers have faced 100-mile journeys to give birth in Inverness.
Just 15 births took place at the midwife-led unit in Wick in 2024, sparking renewed calls for change.
Campaigners argue the current setup is dangerous, discriminatory, and unsustainable for rural families.
Late last year, the Scottish Human Rights Commission backed these fears, citing the experiences of over 14,000 patients annually who travel to Inverness feeling “unsafe” and “terrified.”
The Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) recently escalated the matter to the United Nations, presenting their case to a committee in Geneva as a breach of fundamental human rights.
Minister Minto reportedly showed sympathy during the meeting, comparing the crisis in Caithness to maternity issues in her own rural constituency of Argyll and Bute.
She acknowledged concerns but pointed to NHS Highland’s assurances that services had improved over the past 18 months.
David Green, who is standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, urged the Minister to consider Orkney’s model – a consultant-supported midwife-led unit – as a potential solution.
He also pushed for the Scottish Government to take the UN’s recommendations seriously when published.
Jamie Stone highlighted the real risks posed by distance and winter weather, recalling a harrowing case where a mother gave birth to twins in two separate locations during the same journey.
He warned that blocked roads and unavailable air ambulances could easily turn already difficult situations into tragedies.
David Green said the consequences of poor provision are already being felt, with some families leaving the area or choosing not to have more children at all.
He praised CHAT for their determination and said the upcoming visit from the Minister could be a major turning point.
Councillor Jan McEwan added that women in the North deserve better across all areas of health, especially gynaecology.
She warned that without proper investment, efforts to reverse depopulation and revitalise the region would fall short.
Campaigners now hope that when the Minister steps foot in Caithness, she will fully understand the urgency of the situation.
And with pressure mounting from both the grassroots and international platforms, locals expect more than just a sympathetic ear.
