The Scottish Government has come under pressure to bring forward proposals for a mother and baby unit (MBU) in the north-east, following calls by campaigners who have been seeking easier access to mental health services for new mothers. Currently, there are no MBUs outside of the central belt, with only 12 beds available.
Speaking at Holyrood yesterday, SNP minister Maree Todd addressed the government’s Mental Health & Wellbeing strategy, which acknowledges that childbirth is associated with increased risks of mental ill health in mothers. However, critics argue that the lack of specialist MBUs outside of the central belt is a long-standing issue.
MSP Tess White, who represents the North East region, questioned Mrs Todd on when the government will publish its intentions to act on last year’s consultation about options to increase MBU capacity. This consultation concluded in May last year, and a majority of the responses (118 out of 220) were from the Grampian region, with the next highest cohort being 33 in the Highlands.
Campaigners have urged the Scottish Government to take action on this issue without delay, as early intervention can be critical in preventing long-term mental health issues among new mothers. The Scottish Government has stated that it is considering its response to these calls for a Grampian-based MBU, but there has been no official announcement yet.
