Maternity and neonatal Taskforce minutes: February 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Chair
• Anna Glasier, Vice Chair
• Ann Gow, Vice Chair
• Professor Aisha Holloway, Chief Nursing Officer
• Lynne Nicol, Deputy Director Healthcare Quality and Improvement
• Gillian Russell, Deputy Director Health Workforce (partial attendance)
• Iona Duckett, Professional Midwifery Advisor and representative for Chief Midwifery Officer
• Dr Antony Nicoll, Senior Medical Officer and representative of Chief Medical Officer
• Emma Doubal, Chair of Obstetric Clinical Directors, deputising for Dr Aileen Cope
• Dr Shetty Bhushan, Chair of Scottish Neonatal Consultants Group
• Kate Boyle, Chair of Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group
• Dr Mary Ross-Davie, Chair Directors of Midwifery Group (partial attendance)
• Attica Wheeler, Deputising for Dr Mary Ross-Davie
• Laura Skaife-Knight, Chair of Board Chief Executive Group, deputising for Caroline Hiscox
• Sarah Horan, Executive Nurse Directors representative
• Amie Maclean, Board Clinical Service Manager representative
• 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
• Dr Evelyn Ferguson, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Jaki Lambert, Royal College of Midwives
• Emma Currer, Royal College of Midwives
• Dr Linda Dubiel, Representative of Obstetric Anaesthetists
• Dr Lynsey Still, British Association of Perinatal Medicine Scotland Representative
• Caroline Lee-Davey, Bliss Chief Executive
• Dr Clea Harmer, Sands Chief Executive
• Kate Mulley,  partial deputising for Dr Clea Harmer
• Stuart Falconer, Royal College of Nursing representative
• Danielle Le Poidevin, Scottish Government

Apologies

• Christine Mclaughlin, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland
• Professor Helen Cheyne, University of Stirling
• Dr Aileen Cope, Chair of Obstetric Clinical Directors
• Caroline Hiscox, Chair of Board Chief Executive Group
• Dr Sara Else, Medical Director Representative

Secretariat

• Kirstie Campbell, Scottish Government
• Sophie Rogers, Scottish Government

• Allison McElwee, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcome and opening remarks

Ms Minto welcomed members to the second meeting of the Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce and gave her reflections on the importance of collaboration and open discussion, pace and rural and island services. 
Ms Minto welcomed two new members of the Taskforce, Stuart Falconer and Dr Sara Else.
A reminder will be sent to those yet to return declarations of interest, and apologies and deputies were noted.

Terms of reference and membership

Ms Minto invited members to share any comments on the revised Terms of Reference for prior to agreement.
The Terms of Reference were not agreed. There was discussion on defining baselines, inclusion of workforce, reflecting a whole system approach and data representation.
Members discussed membership, and Ms Minto reflected that she believed subgroups would be where additional persons could be brought in.
Action: Kirstie Campbell to meet with Jaki Lambert and Sarah Horan to discuss the Terms of Reference further prior to recirculation to members.
Action: Ms Minto invited members with a specific interest in neonatal care to meet to discuss priority areas of work. The Secretariat will issue invites for a separate meeting.

Review of Maternity Services, Options for Engaging Lived and Living Experience and Clinical Community 

Ms Minto presented the paper and described to members that the primary focus of this agenda item is engagement with families. Ms Minto reflected that there was a preference agreed at last meeting for having topic specific groups, rather than a single lived and living experience group. It was discussed that there is a need to consider a diverse range of audiences with differing priorities, how best to engage with them, and the importance of including positive experiences as well as challenges. There was agreement for the need to be clear on what we are consulting families on and what will be done with their feedback. 
There was feedback on the importance of including staff in an engagement programme too. Members reflected on the value of hearing their experiences and ideas for improvement, noting that front-line staff will regularly be receiving feedback from women and families.
It was noted that learning can be taken from other approaches to engagement. It was agreed that the Taskforce should be clear that its engagement progress does not constitute an individual case review. There should be clear communications for families who seek this.
Members discussed how this work would benefit from the focussed attention of members with a particular interest in engagement.
Action: Two groups to be created to develop plans for engagement with women and families and engagement with the clinical community. Members invited to express interest to the Secretariat. 
Action: Secretariat to work to include update on the Welsh Maternity and Neonatal National Assurance Assessment at the next meeting.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Presentation on Safe Delivery of Care Inspections

Melissa Dowdeswell gave a presentation on the methodology and process of the maternity inspections, of which five have been completed and two are ongoing. Melissa highlighted that the methodology is under continual review.
Members gave feedback on the inspection programme. The group reflected on the impact of reporting on families’ perceptions of units. Members discussed how the inspections should contribute to sustained improvement, sharing of positive findings and collective learning. Members particularly noted the noting the emerging theme of workforce and culture. Members also highlighted that the Taskforce should consider how learning from the inspections can be linked to its workplan. 
Laura Skaife-Knight advised that the Board Chief Executives received an update on the review themes, progress and lessons learned, and offered to share the presentation for circulation to members.
Action: Secretariat to circulate presentation given to Board Chief Executives.

Triage Task and Finish Group 

Danielle Le Poidevin delivered a concise update on the proposed Triage Task and Finish Group. With triage identified as an area of priority, and an emerging theme from the HIS inspections, this group will oversee and coordinate identified actions. This will include engagement with the Scottish Perinatal Network and National Staffside. 
Members discussed membership of the Task and Finish group and some nominations were made.
Members discussed the status and name of Triage, the need to consider the differences between the requirements of rural and urban health boards, and how to include the voice of service users.
The group agreed to the establishment of the group, with Dr Antony Nicoll chairing. 
Action: Danielle Le Poidevin to establish Triage Task and Finish group. Members are invited to continue to give nominations for membership. 

Miscarriage 

Kirstie Campbell delivered a detailed update on improvement work underway in Miscarriage Care, an area the Taskforce was asked to consider. The updated included data on Boards’ implementation of Miscarriage Framework and highlighted significant progress made to date. 
Members discussed the Boards reporting challenges meeting recommendations on the diagnosis of miscarriage care and sonography staff availability. It was highlighted that workforce plans should include sonography. They also discussed the need for patients to be heard more on issues such as pain control and psychological support. The members acknowledged that staff working in early pregnancy deal regularly with difficult conversations, so the good care they are delivering should be recognised.
Action: Kirstie to meet with Colin Duncan to discuss Miscarriage Care further 

Next Steps and Close 

Ms Minto thanked members for their rich and varied contributions and was pleased to see progress with the Triage Task and Finish group and Miscarriage Framework. 
Ms Minto advised that the next meeting has changed and is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday 25 March due to a change in the start date of the pre-election period. A revised meeting invite will be circulated shortly.