Scottish government urged to think again on Wishaw neonatal downgrade plans
Preemie parents are taking their fight to the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish ministers are being urged to "think again" over what has been branded a "dangerous plan" to downgrade a hospital neonatal intensive care unit.
Labour health spokesperson Jackie Bailie challenged the government over proposals that will see care for the very sickest babies provided at three specialist intensive care neonatal units in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
While the neonatal unit at University Hospital Wishaw will continue to operate, Labour said it had been downgraded by the decision.
With affected families due to stage a protest outside Holyrood on Thursday, Ms Baillie spoke out about the changes.
Ms Baillie insisted there needs to be an independent review of the Scottish Government's changes as there "appears to be contradictory expert opinion" about the impact.
She said: "The anger against the SNP's dangerous plan to downgrade Wishaw neonatal unit is palpable.
"Today, families who have had their children's lives saved by the heroic work at the unit will be at the Scottish Parliament to call on the SNP government to think again."
Lynne McRitchie from East Kilbride will be one of the parents protesting at Holyrood, having been the driving force behind the campaign. Lynne from East Kilbride, gave birth to her son Innes at the hospital on March 4, 2019.
Innes spent a total of four months being cared for by the neonatal team, who were crowned Neonatal Team of the Year 2023, before finally getting home a week after his original due date of June 23, 2019.
She told Clyde 1 News: "After this was last debated in Parliament we left deflated but you underestimate the determination of a preemie parent, and we continue to fight."
"So far a lot of talk has been about data and figures, but we are talking about the tiniest, most vulnerable babies, and there needs to a reality check here."
The online petition stated by Lynne is now sitting at more than 17,000 signatures
The Scottish Government previously said that the decision to move to three national Neonatal Intensive Care Units has been made in line with strong evidence and advice from expert clinicians.
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