Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce minutes: March 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Chair
• Anna Glasier, Vice Chair
• Ann Gow, Vice Chair
• Claire Pearce, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, deputising for Professor Aisha Holloway
• Amy Wilson, Deputy Director Health Workforce, deputising for Gillian Russell
• Dr Antony Nicoll, Senior Medical Officer and representative of Chief Medical Officer
• Dr Shetty Bhushan, Chair of Scottish Neonatal Consultants Group
• Dr Mary Ross-Davie, Chair Directors of Midwifery Group 
• Professor Helen Cheyne, University of Stirling
• Sarah Horan, Executive Nurse Directors representative
• Lynne Johnston, Board Clinical Service Manager representative, deputising for Amie Maclean
• Professor Colin Duncan, Chair of Scottish Early Pregnancy Network
• 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
• Janis Heaney, Scottish Perinatal Network representative, deputising for Susan Buchanan
• Kate Mulley,  Sands chief executive, deputising for Dr Clea Harmer
• Professor Sally Holland, Guest Speaker (partial attendance)

Apologies

• Christine Mclaughlin, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland
• Amie Maclean, Board Clinical Service Manager representative
• Caroline Hiscox, Chair of Board Chief Executive Group
• Dr Sara Else, Medical Director Representative
• Lynne Nicol, Deputy Director Healthcare Quality and Improvement
• Gillian Russell, Deputy Director Health Workforce 
• Kate Boyle, Chair of Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group
• Stuart Falconer, Royal College of Nursing representative

Secretariat

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

• Allison McElwee, Scottish Government

• Louise Scott, Scottish Government

 

Items and actions

Welcome and opening remarks

The Chair, Jenni Minto (JM) welcomed members to the third meeting of the Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce and reminded members this is the final meeting prior to the parliamentary election in May. She thanked members for contributions and commitments to date.

JM then welcomed Professor Sally Holland, Independent Chair of the expert panel who undertook the Welsh national assurance assessment of maternity and neonatal care and services.  

Apologies and deputies were noted.

Presentation from Professor Sally Holland, Welsh Assurance Assessment

Professor Holland delivered a presentation on the recent Welsh national assurance assessment of maternity and neonatal care services, where she described the scope, methodology and engagement strategies utilised. The group reflected on strengths and learning opportunities identified.

Due to conflicting appointments Professor Holland had to leave the meeting immediately after the presentation. Members were invited to direct any questions to the secretariat who will send to Professor Holland after the meeting.

Terms of Reference and Membership

JM reminded members of discussions during the two previous meetings regarding the terms of reference. She described that the role of the Taskforce will involve both national oversight, and determination of the scope of a national review. She updated the group that subgroup meetings have already taken place regarding engagement with families, third sector organisations and the clinical community, and thanked members for their attendance and expertise.

JM advised members that the Terms of Reference had been reviewed again, and thanks were given to Jaki Lambert for meeting with officials to provide further comments. Members were invited to share any comments on the revised draft circulated before the meeting, and in light of no new comments, the current draft was accepted.

Presentation from Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Melissa Dowdeswell (MD) gave a presentation on the new maternity staffing tool which will launch on 1 April. There was discussion on how the data gathered from this new tool will, in time, be used to implement further improvements.

MD gave an update on the maternity standards, the scope and methodology, emphasising the collaborative aspect of the process.

Rural and Island Maternity Care

Kirstie Campbell (KC) introduced the paper, which presents a two-step approach to gathering information on rural and island maternity care. This would involve analysis of data from the Maternity Care Survey and from Public Health Scotland, and a survey of questions for NHS Boards. Members were invited to share comments and amendments. It is expected that analysis of this survey will be prepared for the next meeting of the Taskforce.

Action: KC to revise questions based on comments provided, seek approval from members consulted and issue by the end of 25 March.

Verbal update on Engagement, clinical community

Anna Glasier gave an overview of what was discussed at the sub-group meeting for engaging with the clinical community on 18 March, explaining the secretariat will create a question list for the group to review over the next few weeks and this will be fed back to the Taskforce at the next meeting. It was noted that it is important to ensure that those involved understand this is not the review itself, but rather an exercise to identify topics to be included in the review. It was agreed that all participants should be assured they would be allowed time and space to contribute to the review itself.

Verbal update on Engagement, women, families and third sector

Ann Gow gave an overview and short presentation on what was discussed at the sub-group meeting for engaging with women, families and third sector organisations on 20 March. This included clarity of parameters of the review and how best to engage. It was agreed that the best approach was to conduct a desk top analysis during April to June, to identify what we already know and provide a gap analysis on who to engage with after the election. It was agreed that some co-production with people with lived and living experience should take place.

Verbal update on Workforce discussions

KC gave an overview of the meeting held earlier that week with colleagues on issues and priorities in workforce planning. Discussions included understanding data and ensuring learning comes from any data.

Action: A presentation will be given at the next meeting on work underway in the Scottish Government workforce policy team.

Any Other Business

Members discussed the recommendations identified within the interim report published by Baroness Amos as part of the UK Government review of maternity services. It was agreed that the scope of a review on Scotland should be based on recent available evidence, including the work Baroness Amos is undertaking.

KC gave an update on a meeting with members of the Taskforce with an interest in Neonatal, as described in the paper issued before the meeting.  Members were invited to consider the priorities within the paper and provide feedback to the secretariat. The need for work to be looked at through a perinatal lens, and to define the role of the Scottish Perinatal Network was discussed. JM stated that the Taskforce should be where inputs from different sub-groups are consolidated.

KC gave an update following her discussion on Miscarriage with Professor Colin Duncan. KC advised that data collection from NHS Boards on implementation of the Miscarriage Framework, and other policy delivery, is ongoing and we will aim to give an update on this at the next meeting.   KC also advised that the Miscarriage Patient Charter, produced in collaboration with Tommy’s, was published last week. It sets out what women and families can expect during miscarriage care. A full charter is to be introduced when full implementation of the Miscarriage Framework is complete.

Next steps and close

JM thanked members for their time and valuable contributions over the past three meetings, including the sub-groups, and gave thanks to both vice chairs. There was a reminder that due to the pre-election period a date cannot be given for the next meeting, but it is anticipated that it could be in June. The secretariat will be in touch in due course. JM encouraged members to continue conversations between meetings and for any comments or questions to be directed to secretariat.