Births in Other Health Boards - FOI Response Register

FoI Number
2023-265
Subject
Births in Other Health Boards
Date Received
07/08/2023
Request and Response
  1. In this health board, how many women have been directed or referred to hospitals or other healthcare settings in another health board to give birth in the financial year 2023-24? Please also provide the data for the financial years 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019- 20.

 

  1. In each year, what is the furthest distance someone had to travel to give birth?
  GBH home board Aberdeen: 224.5 miles Raigmore: 275.1 miles Perth: 311 miles Glasgow 374.1 miles Dumfries and Galloway: 434.9 miles Edinburgh Royal: 362.1 miles Kirkaldy: 318.3 miles Elgin: 309 miles Ninewells: 292.2 miles Paisley: 378.1 miles Forth Valey: 346.5 miles
2023 21 27 1 - 1 - - - - - - 2
2022 96 109 2 1 1 - - - - - - -
2021 95 97 2 - 1 1 1 1 - - - -
2020 119 62 - - - - - 1 - - - -
2019 110 86 - - - - 2 - 1 1 1 -

NHS Shetland is a remote and rural Board, therefore, to be able to provide the safest care possible for the Mum and baby, we will recommend delivery in Aberdeen as our default unit. Decisions are made after risk assessment and after consultation with the parents. This is primarily as they have neonatal and critical care support.

Where families request delivery at units other than Aberdeen (usually because they have family or support there) we will facilitate this.

Occasionally placement is also dictated by neonatal cot availability, but this is rarer.