Scottish maternity care failures laid bare by midwife survey and baby's death
A midwife survey and the fatal case of newborn Mason show serious failings in Scottish maternity care, with a government review due this autumn.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A new survey of midwives in Scotland has found that nearly nine in ten believe staffing levels are directly harming the quality of care they can provide to women and babies. The findings, obtained exclusively by ITV News, come as figures show an average of one mother and baby die each week in Glasgow hospitals due to an adverse event.
The case of Mason, a two-day-old boy who died of sepsis in January 2023, has become a focus of concern. His family said he stopped feeding during the night, and after a visit from a local midwife and a call to the ward, they ended up at Glasgow Children's A&E. There, an incorrect temperature reading meant his care was not escalated. The serious adverse event review by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde found that sepsis should have been considered, a blood glucose test should have been taken, and antibiotics should have been started.
His mother described the horror of the moment his condition worsened: "Honestly, like a horror." The family attempted CPR while staff argued over the technique, and eventually a doctor told them there was nothing more that could be done. They were told to come and say goodbye. The review acknowledged that sepsis is treatable and that opportunities were missed.
The Royal College of Midwives survey, carried out in Scotland, showed that 89% of midwives said staffing levels directly affect the quality of care they can provide. 72% said their unit was not safely staffed in the first week of June. The Scottish government is due to undertake an independent review of maternity services in the autumn, the last UK nation to do so.
The Scottish health secretary responded to ITV News, saying: "No, but it is very clear when I look at cases that not every mother and every baby has been well served." He said he would not be commissioning an independent review if he were not concerned. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has apologised to Mason's family for the issues that directly caused his death and says it is implementing recommendations.
The family say it is critical that the government review gets it right to ensure other families do not have to endure the same suffering.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| 72% of midwives said their unit was not safely staffed in the first week of June. | |
| 89% of midwives in Scotland said staffing levels directly affect quality of care. | |
| Reported figures show an average of one mother and one baby die each week in Glasgow hospitals due to adverse events. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV News at Ten led with the emotional story of Mason's death to illustrate broader systemic failures in Scottish maternity care. It combined the family's testimony with exclusive survey data and the political response, framing the issue as a failure of accountability and safety.
- “Honestly, like a horror.”
- “No, but it is very clear when I look at cases that not every mother and every baby has been well served.”
Broadcast Timeline
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