Local MSP Jackie Baillie has called for an immediate investigation after an Alexandria woman was rushed to hospital 80 miles away in Fife because maternity units in Paisley and Glasgow did not have the right type of neo-natal cots.

Angela McDonald was sent to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in an ambulance last week after her waters broke. She has not given birth yet but she was kept in hospital over the weekend to be treated for complications.

The 27-year old was even told that doctors were planning to send her in an air ambulance to a hospital in Belfast or Newcastle because they could not get access to a neo-natal cot in the NHS in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie said women should not face travelling hundreds of miles to have their babies and  raised Angela’s case directly with Nicola Sturgeon yesterday at First Minister’s Questions.

Jackie said:

“Having a baby can be one of the most stressful times of a young woman’s life and this story will cause alarm across West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond. Angela had to spend the whole weekend 80 miles away from her family and friends because hospitals in Paisley or Glasgow did not have enough equipment. And to make matters worse, she was told that she might have to be flown in a helicopter to Belfast or Newcastle. This is completely unacceptable.

“We need an urgent investigation to make sure our NHS has enough resources to provide high-quality maternity services as locally as possible