There are currently two regional Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in Scotland. One at St John’s Hospital, Livingston hosted by NHS Lothian and one at Leverndale Hospital, Glasgow hosted by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Each Mother and Baby Unit can take up to six women and their babies.
Delivering Effective Services (2019) recommended that Scotland could benefit from an additional four MBU beds. These additional beds could be created by expanding one or other of the existing MBUs, or through creating a new, third, MBU in the north of Scotland. An options appraisal was also recommended to determine where the additional beds should be sited.
Scottish Government is now consulting on the best way to expand MBU capacity in Scotland. The consultation will run between 28th February and 31st May 2022.
The consultation can be completed on the Scottish Government consultation platform or by competing the consultation form and respondent information form and returning it to perinataloptionsappraisal@gov.scot
Online consultation platform: https://consult.gov.scot/mental-health-unit/mother-and-baby-unit
Full text consultation and respondent information form: https://www.gov.scot/publications/options-increase-mother-baby-unit-mbu-capacity-consultation/
Easy read consultation and respondent information form: https://www.gov.scot/publications/options-increase-mother-baby-unit-mbu-capacity-consultation-easy-read-version/
It is important that a wide range of stakeholders are heard, particularly those with lived experience and those living outside the central belt especially in the north of Scotland.
Further engagement events are planned to reach minority communities during the consultation process by working with stakeholders and networks to reach women and families.
If you would like us to speak about the consultation at an event that you are hosting please contact perinataloptionsappraisal@gov.scot to arrange this. You can also contact this email address if you have any questions or feedback on the consultation.