PHS FOI 2026-002426
- Date of request
- 24 June 2026
- Date of response
- 01 July 2026
- FOI request ID
- PHS FOI 2026-002426
- Births and maternity
Request
1 - Any data or analysis held or produced by Public Health Scotland on the number of pregnant women transferred from all islands served by NHS Highland for delivery or complications between 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2026, broken down by island and reason for transfer where available. Please answer with the exact figures or analysis where held.
2 - Any data or analysis held or produced by Public Health Scotland on adverse outcomes (including stillbirth, neonatal death, maternal complications requiring higher care, or NICU admission) associated with maternity transfers from island communities between 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2026. Please answer YES or NO to whether such data or analysis exists. If yes, provide a high-level summary.
3 - Whether Public Health Scotland has undertaken, contributed to, commissioned or received any risk assessments, safety reviews, analyses or reports since 1 January 2023 concerning maternity outcomes, risks or service sustainability for island communities in NHS Highland. Please answer YES or NO. If yes, please provide a brief summary of the main findings and any recommendations made.
4 - Any and all correspondence, emails, briefing notes, meeting notes, position papers or other recorded information shared between Public Health Scotland and NHS Highland, the Scottish Ambulance Service or the Scottish Government since 1 January 2023 in which risks to patient safety, capacity pressures, or sustainability of maternity services for island communities were discussed, assessed, or considered.
5 - Any analysis, assessment or review carried out or held by Public Health Scotland regarding the costs, resource implications, or value for money of maternity transfers from island communities.
6 - Any complaints, concerns or serious adverse event reports received, reviewed or analysed by Public Health Scotland relating to maternity transfers or maternity outcomes for island residents in NHS Highland.
For the purposes of this request, “all islands served by NHS Highland” includes (but is not limited to) the Isle of Bute, Mull, Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Tiree, Coll, Skye, Raasay, and the Small Isles (Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna).
**** Date range: 1 January 2023 to 31 May 2026. ****