A STAFFING crisis at the main hospital in Caithness could force more mothers-to-be to take 100-mile trips down the twisting A9 to give birth in Inverness.
NHS Highland admitted yesterday that the situation in the obstetric department at Caithness General Hospital in Wick is “very precarious” and the service is “fragile”.
The staff shortage has raised fears in the community that the six-bed unit could be under threat of closure again.
The health board has advised it may have to cut the obstetric and gynaecology services to daytime only, and out-of-hours maternity care would be affected, with the possibility of pregnant women transferring to Inverness.
Office administrator Susan New, 33, of Wick, who underwent an ambulance journey of over two hours from Caithness General to Raigmore for an emergency caesarian, said: “It would be horrible if the maternity unit was shut down.
“It is not convenient for friends and family, and more expensive to have to travel that distance.”
The staffing difficulty came after one of the three consultant obstetricians left in December and a new locum died. Gill McVicar, NHS Highland director of operations, said: “This, together with leave commitments, leaves a very precarious staffing situation and so a fragile service.
“Attempts are being made to secure the services of other locums, but it is likely contingency plans will have to be put in place in the next few weeks to ensure a safe service.”
The health board said it is considering what plans to put in place to support midwives and obstetricians at Caithness General, including help from obstetricians at Raigmore Hospital and local surgical and anaesthetic services. NHS Highland said women deemed to have high-risk pregnancies in Caithness are booked for birth at Raigmore, while those classified low-risk receive midwife-led care in Wick. The Caithness unit has been subject to several reviews in recent years and the local community have twice mounted campaigns to prevent it being closed.
Staff shortages led to the health board suspending low-risk induced births at Wick for more than two years from April 2009, transferring them to Inverness. The Wick service was resumed in January 2012.
Mrs New gave birth to her daughter, Elaina, last July.
The mother of two said: “I was taken down in an ambulance at about 4am and because it was an emergency they had the flashing blue lights on. They thought she was going to appear any second.
“They can’t cope with babies born before 36 weeks at Caithness General, so I had no choice but to go down, but it would be a shame if people ended up not being able to give birth in Wick at all.”
Childminder and mother-of-three Angela Levack, of Wick, said: “More and more expectant mothers have been having to go down to Raigmore. It’s a concern for a lot of mums up here.”
Ms Levack gave birth to her third child, a son, by caesarian section at Caithness General in June, but said she was worried throughout her pregnancy that she might have to travel to Inverness for the birth.
Wick councillor Bill Fernie, who with the North Action Group fought to retain the service when it was previously under threat, said: “Maternity services have been for a very long time a huge issue in Caithness due to this very problem and the issue of taking expectant mothers to Raigmore.
“It’s similar to the situation that we faced when we were fighting against downgrading it to a midwifery unit only. So many mothers will have to go down the road to Inverness, which is a pretty daunting prospect if you don’t have to go.
“It is obviously regrettable about the death of the locum and the fact that they can’t get enough staff. I just hope that, given the problems they have had in the past with staff, they will do their utmost to fully staff the unit again.”