Area’s maternity care deemed safe

ASSURANCES have been given that the birthing services currently in place in Wigtownshire are safe - despite public and political concerns.

Members of the Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) this week heard that the approach, which they agreed last September, is operating safely.

At that time they controversially decided not to reintroduce the option for low-risk mothers to deliver their babies at the Galloway Community Hospital (GCH) - above - and to direct most births to Dumfries instead.

Mums deemed low risk and wishing to stay locally can opt for a home birth, although last year, there were no home birth requests.

However, enhanced pre-natal and post-natal services continue to be offered in Wigtownshire, through the Oak Tree Family Centre. That includes the provision of ultrasound scanning and consultant obstetrician clinics, in a bid to reduce the need for travel during pregnancy.

A year on from the decision, the region’s senior midwives were asked to consider how it was going.

They have now concluded that the current set-up “remains the most viable and safe model for delivering maternity care in Wigtownshire, both now and into the foreseeable future”, adding: “This approach is fundamentally about safeguarding the health and wellbeing of both mothers and their babies.”

In reply to calls for a midwife led unit to be set up at GCH, they found: “Our data shows that only 23 per cent of women met the criteria for birth in a community midwifery unit, underscoring the importance of appropriate triage.”

Their report also noted that concerns that more babies would be born enroute to hospital in Dumfries had proved unfounded.

The findings were shared at Tuesday’s meeting of the IJB and afterwards chair Kim Dams welcomed the update and said: “A decision was taken last year not to reintroduce a birthing service within Galloway Community Hospital for purely low-risk births, but with a request to receive a subsequent assurance on how this position was being implemented.

“Almost one year on from that decision, I’m pleased to note that the IJB sub-committee stated that they were satisfied with the progress.

“The update received noted that the maternity service workforce is stable, with an effective on-call model, and with low-rates of births occurring before arrival at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. In 2024, that rate stood at 0.9 per cent overall, and 0.09 per cent in Wigtownshire.”

She revealed there were 692 births across the entire region between September 2024 and June 2025 and the percentage of pregnancies in Wigtownshire assessed as low-risk decreased - from 16 per cent in 2023 to 15 per cent last year.

Ms Dams added: “Pre-planned home births continue to be offered in Wigtownshire for that small percentage of low-risk pregnancies, but all high-risk births in the region take place at DGRI under a consultant-led maternity service supported by an on-site neonatal intensive care unit.”

Meanwhile, MSPs Finlay Carson and Emma Harper will meet with the Galloway Community Hospital Action Group to continue discussions on the future of maternity care in Wigtownshire.

The political pair are both long-standing campaigners for improved birthing services in Stranraer and the meeting will focus on the potential reinstatement of midwife-led births at the GCH and will also consider this week’s update.

In addition, they will discuss the findings of a Scottish Human Rights Commission report on maternal care in the Highlands and Islands, exploring how its conclusions may be relevant to the experiences of mothers locally.

Mr Carson said: “This is about ensuring that women in Wigtownshire have the choice of access to safe, local, and dignified maternity care.”

Ms Harper added: “I know how vital it is that we listen to local voices and push for solutions that are safe, that are based on choice and also meet the needs of families in Stranraer and beyond.”