Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to fulfil the recommendation in its report, Best Start Five-Year Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care 2017–2024, regarding the three units that will provide neonatal intensive care, and on what date it plans to remove level 3 neonatal provision from (a) Ninewells Hospital, (b) University Hospital Wishaw, (c) University Hospital Crosshouse, (d) Victoria Hospital and (e) the Princess Royal Maternity Unit.
The University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, and Victoria Hospital, Fife and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary have been working under this model as early implementers since 2019. It is important that we assure a managed transition to the new model taking learning from the early adopters, to allow safe and effective implementation within Scotland.
To support governance and consistent implementation of the Neonatal Service Change in Scotland national work has moved to the Sub National Planning and Delivery Committee. They are actively considering ongoing actions to deliver the change in practice, following further modelling work. We continue to work with the Regional Chief Executives and NHS Boards to continue to implement this service change.
I must be absolutely clear, the vast majority of sick babies will continue to be cared for in local neonatal units. Local Neonatal Units will continue to provide a level of intensive care and be able to care for singleton births over 27 weeks gestation.