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Review to be led by Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley.

The Scottish Government’s review of maternity services will be led by the Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, Jane Grant.

The review was announced in February 2015 with the aim of refreshing the Scottish Government’s approach to maternity and neonatal services to ensure that every mother and baby continues to get the best possible care from Scotland’s health service.

Under Mrs Grant, the review group will examine recent examples of innovation and best practice. They will consider the levels and type of services available, and examine new evidence about the benefits of different birth settings for mothers and babies. The impact of changing birth rates and demographics on maternity and neonatal facilities will also be considered as well as looking to see that Scotland has the right maternity and neonatal services in place to continue to deliver and enhance the excellent care provided.

The report will also give consideration to relevant recommendations from the independent Morecambe Bay investigation, which was published in March 2015.

Following her appointment by Public Health Minister Maureen Watt, Mrs Grant will now select the members of her expert review group. The final report will be presented to ministers next summer.

Jane Grant said: “I am pleased to accept the invitation to chair this very important piece of work. This will be a detailed examination of maternity and neonatal services. We will talk to families who use the services, and the professionals who deliver them. Our aim is to identify a series of recommendations that will seek to enhance services so that the health service can continue to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable services for women and their babies.”

Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: “I’m delighted that Jane Grant has accepted my invitation to chair the review of Scotland’s maternity and neonatal services.

“The services we provide to women and babies are excellent and safe, but changes to the birth rate, demographics new best practice and guidelines, along with advances in clinical care and treatment, mean they must be adapted and updated. Through this review we want to create a refreshed model of care, focusing on what works well and spreading best practice across our NHS.

“Under Jane’s guidance, the review will look at giving mums-to-be a choice of options, to ensure that services are available in the right place at the right time. We will consider fresh ideas for how we can make existing services even better and safer, based on the best available evidence and feedback from families and front line staff.”

Notes To Editors

Jane Grant joined the NHS in 1983 as a Management Services Officer within Highland Health Board and early in her career worked in Stobhill Hospital as Deputy Administrator. In the early 1990s, she moved to Lanarkshire Health Board as Hospital Administrator within Hairmyres Hospital. She then undertook a variety of posts associated with planning, information and contracting within Lanarkshire, culminating in her appointment as General Manager of Hairmyres Hospital in 1999.

Jane moved back to Glasgow in 2000 to become the General Manager for Surgery in North Glasgow and from April 2005, she acted as Chief Executive within the North Glasgow Division. She was appointed as Director of Surgery and Anaesthetics for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in early 2006 and became the Board’s Chief Operating Officer in 2009. Jane was appointed Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley on 1st October 2013.