THE fight to restore maternity services in Wigtownshire continues, with Dumfries and Galloway Council officially getting back in the ring.
Councillors unanimously agreed at last Thursday’s full council meeting to lobby the region’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB) to urgently review its decision and reconsiders the re-opening of a birthing unit at Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer.
The motion was put forward by Labour councillor Emma Jordan who dubbed the previous decision by the IJB ‘a breach of trust’.
During the meeting, she said: “Let’s be clear this issue should not be about health service design that’s convenient for the health board, it should be about fairness, honesty and the right to safe local care for the women of Wigtownshire.
“When the birthing unit closed in 2018, families were told the closure was temporary, due to short term recruitment difficulties. They were promised it was not a political or permanent decision. Yet seven years on there’s still no local birthing service and no sign of one returning and that is a breach of trust.
“The public were told their views would be listened to in a full review of the lack of provision but the NHS lead review recommended reinstating local services under option two, the IJB ignored both the review and the voices of the community, no explanation has ever been given for that rejection and that’s a breach of trust.”
Councillors Andrew Giusti, Willie Scobie and Jackie McCamon also spoke out in support of the motion, with Mid Galloway and Wigtown West member Jackie McCamon adding: “Although data is important, my toes now curl when I see statistics and figures throughout any report on this subject. These statistics are people, families, mothers and babies many of whom I have sat with whilst they wept telling me of their horrific experience, let’s not forget that.
“There’s still a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes both by local and national elected members and Finlay Carson MSP has raised the topic with ministers at Holyrood and I believe that is where the lobbying should remain and continue.
“I will always support any attempt to get this significant problem highlighted at every opportunity and to be addressed urgently.”
