Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce
Overview
This taskforce was created in January 2026 to promote continuous, evidence-informed improvement in maternity care, pregnancy and birth outcomes.
It is chaired by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. Ann Gow and Professor Anna Glasier have been appointed as Vice Chairs of the taskforce.
It will report to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
Members
- Professor Aisha Holloway, Chief Nursing Officer
- Lynne Nicol, Deputy Director - Healthcare Quality and Improvement
- Gillian Russell, Director of Health Workforce
- Iona Duckett, Chief Midwifery Officer representative
- Dr Antony Nicoll, Senior Medical Officer/representative of Chief Medical Officer
- Christine McLaughlin, COO and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland
- Dr Aileen Cope, Chair of Obstetric Clinical Directors
- Dr Shetty Bhushan, Chair of Scottish Neonatal Consultants Group
- Kate Boyle, Chair of Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group
- Dr Sara Else, Medical Director Representative
- Dr Mary Ross-Davie, Chair Directors of Midwifery Group
- Sarah Horan, Executive Nurse Directors representative
- Caroline Hiscox, Chair of Board Chief Executive Group
- Amie Maclean, Board Clinical Service Manager
- Professor Colin Duncan, Chair of Scottish Early Pregnancy Network
- Susan Buchanan, Scottish Perinatal Network Representative
- Karen Titchener, Patient Safety Commissioner
- Melissa Dowdeswell, Healthcare Improvement Scotland representative
- Dr Paul Mills, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – Co-Chair
- Dr Evelyn Ferguson, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – Co-Chair
- Jaki Lambert, Royal College of Midwives - Director
- Dr Linda Dubiel, Representative of Obstetric Anaesthetists
- Dr Lynsey Still, British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Scotland Representative
- Emma Currer, Partnership Rep - RCM
- Stuart Falconer, Partnership Rep - RCN
- Caroline Lee-Davey, Bliss Chief Executive
- Dr Clea Harmer, Sands Chief Executive
- Professor Helen Cheyne, Higher Education Institution representative