Triplet's 70-mile trip highlights problems of provision

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 22:05

THE problems surrounding neonatal care in Scotland were highlighted last month with the case of a newborn who was taken from his mother and transferred to another city.

Because of a lack of specialist provision, Cameron Noble, who weighed about 3lb after being born 12 weeks prematurely to his mother Kelly, from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, was transferred nearly 70 miles, to Dundee.

The triplet's mother said a worrying time was made "even worse" after being forced to spent four days apart. Mrs Noble gave birth to Cameron and his brothers at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital after an emergency Caesarean section.

However, nurses warned her that due to a lack of specialist neonatal cots, one of her babies would have to be moved.

The same facility was at the centre of similar capacity issues last year when Jennifer Gray, who was expecting triplets, was told there was no room.

She was transferred to Liverpool to give birth.

Last February, meanwhile, another mother was flown from Aberdeen to have her baby in Sunderland.