5. To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with neonatologists from NHS Lanarkshire. (S6O-02644)

Scottish Government officials had discussions on the new model of neonatal care with neonatologists from Lanarkshire alongside neonatologists from other Scottish neonatal units at the recent Scottish neonatal consultants group meeting. Senior Scottish Government officials also recently met the chief executive and medical director from NHS Lanarkshire to discuss neonatal intensive care.

If the Government is relying on clinical advice that is now five years out of date to downgrade University hospital Wishaw’s neonatal unit, it is absolutely shocking that the Minister has not taken the time to meet the experts who run that unit. Will the minister commit to meeting the award-winning experts from

NHS Lanarkshire neonatal unit before progressing with the plans to downgrade that absolutely crucial life-saving unit?

It is important to recognise that the best start project started in 2018, it has taken evidence from experts on the clinical side, and it is those experts whose advice we are following. Originally, we had eight neonatal units. The number was reduced to five. The next stage, which was reviewed in 2022, involved going down to three.

I am happy to meet the unit staff at

Wishaw general hospital

. However, it is important that officials continue to meet with the services there and with parents of patients who are involved with the service. We have very much involved Bliss Scotland in all the work that we have been doing; it represents parents who have experienced what must be an incredibly traumatic time in their lives.

I echo Mark Griffin’s comments about the vital neonatal service at Wishaw general.

Parents and families who have used the service over the many years that the award-winning neonatal department has been open are deeply distressed, worried and concerned that they will not be able to travel locally in order to get the care that they need for their babies and themselves. Will the Minister commit to ensuring that she engages with families who have used the service over those many years in order to hear about their life experiences and why the department is so important to them and their families?

It is important to remind members that the neonatal unit in Lanarkshire will remain open and will bring the patients—the babies—back as soon as possible. We have made the decisions that we have in order to ensure that the sickest and smallest babies—the most vulnerable babies—get the best treatment ever, and we have based that on clinical evidence.

As I said to Mr Griffin, I am happy to meet people in North Lanarkshire.