Angus mum forced to travel 130 miles to give birth due to lack of neonatal beds

A grateful mum has thanked NHS Ayrshire and Arran for “exceptional clinical care” after traveling to Crosshouse Hospital on a 130-mile trip to give birth due to a lack of resources in Tayside.

Nada Wilson, who lives in Brechin, had to be transferred from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee last October because of the unavailability of a neonatal bed.

She told the board she wished to express her sincere thanks for the “exceptional clinical care”, birthing experience, and emotional support provided by all staff in the Ayrshire Maternity Unit.

Nada, 41, shared her story in her own words in a video story played at the June meeting on Monday and expressed her sincere thanks for the “exceptional clinical care” birthing experience and emotional support provided by all staff in the Ayrshire Maternity Unit.

She said: “I want to share my fantastic birthing experience at the Crosshouse Hospital Maternity Unit.

“I am from Brechin in Angus and was due to have my waters broken in Ninewells Hospital, but I was told there was a space in Kilmarnock and I would be sent there. It was just a matter of the ambulance coming.

Nada Wilson from Brechin travelled to NHS Ayrshire and Arran LDRS

“I was in the ambulance blue-lighted the whole way, we arrived there and were met by a couple of different midwives, and the greeting we got was lovely and reassuring, and they did quick obs on me and told me to get rest.

“They would reassess the situation the next day. Every single midwife explained everything fantastically.

”We got a private room which was fantastic, the domestics were lovely and the doctors who came in explained everything. My midwife was Jan Haggerty.

“Louisa was my fourth baby, and I have never had such a wonderful, positive birthing experience. Jan was amazing and guided me through the whole thing. Another midwife was also there, who was fantastic.

“I had never been able to have gas and air before, and managed to do that this time, and also managed to have some other pain relief. Everyone was so professional.

“When you are so far away from home, they turned what was such a disastrous situation into such a wonderful experience.

“My partner was given a bed beside me, and for him to be included in things was great.

“I was encouraged to breastfeed at my own pace as Louisa was early. We all know how bogged down the NHS is, but in that maternity unit, nothing felt rushed and they couldn’t have been better.

“They were fantastic and I will be forever grateful they brought my daughter into the world.”

Lesley Bowie, board chair said: “To hear from another board how good our facilities are how welcoming staff are its pounds it from start to finish she has been really well looked after, we;ll done to everyone in maternity service for what they did for that particular patient who came so far away from home.”