Aberdeen support group campaign for better care for new mums in the North East
The two mother and baby units in Scotland are located in the central belt
Last updated 9th May 2022
Let's All Talk North East Mums (LATNEM) are campaigning for better care for new mothers in the North East.
Approximately one in five new mums suffer with a mental health disorder, ranging from depression, anxiety or PTSD.
There is specialist help available for those struggling in Scotland, however the two units in the country are located in the central belt.
Chairwomen of LATNEM, Gill Skene, said: "When you're most unwell, when people have mental health problems just after having a baby, they need inpatient care sometimes if they're really, really poorly.
"At the moment there are 12 beds to serve the whole of Scotland, and they are all within 45 minutes, ragged of each other in central belt."
Ms Skene has said that various issues can cause women to opt not to travel to Livingston or Glasgow for inpatient care.
"For a mum to be really unwell and to be separated from the baby, or to stay at home and not get better, those are not good outcomes, and we're seeing people not to go away because they can't afford it.
"We've got people saying it's like making you choose between the new baby and the three-year-old. It would be different if you were a half an hour down the road and Dad could bring him in every evening.
"If it's a three hour drive it's a full tank of diesel, that's just financially not possible right now."