To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns over its reported plans to downgrade the neonatal intensive care unit at Ninewells hospital. (S6O-03776)

Under the new model for neonatal care, which was announced in July 2023, neonatal intensive care will be provided in a smaller number of units with co-located specialist services. The model is based on evidence and clinical advice from neonatal experts, which shows that the most pre-term and sickest babies have a better chance of survival when they are cared for in high-volume specialist neonatal units.

Those specialist intensive care units will be at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital, Edinburgh royal infirmary and Aberdeen maternity hospital. Local neonatal units will continue delivering care, including a level of intensive care, to babies who need that and the changes will affect only a small number of the smallest and sickest babies.

The report made little, if any, mention of the potential impact on the mental wellbeing of families forced to travel far from home during an already harrowing time. That is unacceptable, so does the minister agree that there should be a fuller assessment before any action is taken?

I absolutely recognise how traumatic such circumstances must be for new parents. This model of neonatal care is supported by a range of stakeholders and clinicians. We have consulted through Bliss and with a wider cohort of families. The work is on-going and is now being led by regional clinical leads, who are looking at implementation. Mental health support for families is very much at the centre of the work.

This issue affects not only my constituents who use Ninewells hospital in Dundee but those using Victoria hospital in Kirkcaldy. I would want to be able to access the best care for my family, but my concern is that ever-greater specialism leads to ever-greater centralisation, which leads to deskilling in regional facilities. How will the minister make a judgement about when specialism and centralisation have gone far enough? We must maintain skills in regional centres so that everyone can get access to the best care at their local facility.

That is exactly what drives our decision making, which was led by experts in the neonatal sphere of health services and builds on international evidence. It is incredibly important to ensure the safety and health of the smallest and sickest babies. That has been absolutely central to all the work and to all the evidence that has been pulled together.