Moray mum gives birth in back of ambulance on A96 after being sent 60 miles to Aberdeen

A mum from Moray gave birth in the back of an ambulance on the A96 after being sent to a hospital around 60 miles from her home, renewing anger over the long-running loss of full maternity services in the area.

Hannah Smith, 39, from Buckie, was advised to deliver her baby at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, which has full consultant-led maternity services, because she might have needed an emergency caesarean section.

She lives less than half an hour from Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin.

"He's coming"

At around 6am on the morning of the birth, Hannah's parents began driving her on the journey to Aberdeen, which takes around an hour and 40 minutes.

After contacting maternity triage, the family were met by an ambulance in Keith for the rest of the journey. But just one mile into the ambulance trip, Hannah knew her son was on the way. Baby Braeson was born in the vehicle near a farm track just off the A96.

Speaking to STV News, Hannah described how quickly it happened, saying she could feel his head and that he arrived with the next contraction.

She praised the crew who looked after her. "The paramedics were fantastic; they calmed me down a lot," she said, adding that she had been panicking while in the car.

Why she was sent to Aberdeen

Hannah said the decision for her to give birth in Aberdeen was made because Braeson was conceived through IVF.

She said it was a shame that level of care was not available in Elgin, and praised the staff at Dr Gray's, saying the care they do provide, "as understaffed as it is", was exceptional.

"I feel like maternity care across the North East is just getting pushed further and further down the list," she said.

Eight years of downgraded services

Full maternity services at Dr Gray's were downgraded to a midwife-led unit in 2018 due to staff shortages. Since then, many women in Moray have had to travel to Aberdeen or Inverness to give birth.

NHS Grampian had set a target to fully restore consultant-led maternity services by the end of this year. Earlier this month it was confirmed that the return has been delayed. Health bosses have admitted the goal was "ambitious", and say it will now be implemented "as soon as is safely possible" next year.

Health board apologises

NHS Grampian apologised to Hannah and her family. The health board said it wants as many women in Moray as possible to give birth locally, and that this type of experience "only reaffirms our determination to deliver that as soon as safely possible". It added that, for some women and babies, the specialist care in Aberdeen means planning to give birth there is the safest option.

National review under way

Health secretary Angela Constance has announced that an independent review of maternity services across Scotland has begun. It is being chaired by maternal and child health expert Professor Christine McCourt.

The minister has promised the findings will lead to "real and tangible change" for women and their families, and said she wants every woman and baby to receive the high-quality care they deserve.