Maternity services to be a minimum standard in Rural General Hospitals in Scotland

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) this week asked the Scottish Executive what services would be devolved to rural general hospitals. In her response the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon noted that the recommendations of the remote and rural steering group report, “Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare”, set out the services that are expected as a minimum-of rural general hospitals. Those services include improved diagnostics, maternity services, emergency care and the management of long-term conditions. She agreed with Rhoda Grant that many services are now being provided in rural general hospitals anyway however, she emphasised that what is set out in the report should be regarded as a minimum. She also pointed out that the report looked at how the model of delivering health care in remote and rural communities can be changed to ensure they are sustainable.