Health board's fears for teenage mum trial

A SCHEME which pairs pregnant teenagers with a specialist nurse should not be allowed to stop once the trial finishes, health chiefs have warned.

NHS Lothian's Family Nurse Partnership already helps more than 100 pregnant girls and new mothers in the area, and in September another 100 came under the project's wing.

But given the pilot nature of the initiative, no more new teenagers will be recruited until the pilot is complete in 2012.

This has sparked concern among the health board that hundreds could be missing out on crucial help. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon visited the Scottish Government-funded scheme earlier this month and was impressed by the progress made. The health board has confirmed no-one else will be able to benefit from this run of the project after September's intake..

One board member said: "It's important we do not close the door on this."

Nursing director Melanie Hornett added: "We always knew this was going to be a test."