Stevenson Defends Local Maternity Units In Parliament

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson today spoke out in Parliament in support of the threatened maternity units in his constituency. Mr Stevenson was speaking at a meeting of the Parliament’s Petitions Committee where the petition from Fraserburgh camapigner Lynne Simpson was being discussed.

The SNP MSP, who visited the Broch Maternity Unit last August when the threat first became known and who joined hundreds of people at the march and rally in support of the Unit, has repeatedly urged NHS Grampian and the Scottish Executive to ‘keep maternity services local’.

Speaking from the Scottish Parliament, Mr Stevenson said:

“This was a useful opportunity to once again underline the strong arguments in favour of keeping health services local. The policy of NHS Grampian is entirely at odds with stated Government policy. This is all the more bizarre when one considers that Fraserburgh is the only town in Scotland with a population of over 10,000 which is more than one hour away from an acute services hospital.

“Ministers will have the final say on NHS Grampian’s proposals for maternity services and it is incumbent upon them to support local delivery of maternity services and back their own policy

“The Committee agreed to continue its consideration of this vitally important issue in light of the Ministerial decision which is expected shortly.”