Jackie Baillie slams ERI beds shortage

HEALTH chiefs have been urged to review maternity services after it emerged that new mothers are regularly being forced to give birth in Livingston because Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is full up.

The Evening News revealed yesterday that the region’s flagship maternity unit had been placed on “divert” 107 times last year due to staffing or capacity issues.

Labour’s Jackie Baillie, shadow health secretary, said: “These figures demonstrate that there isn’t enough capacity in maternity services.

“For many women, being diverted from the service they had planned to go to and where they may have already spent time is quite 
distressing.

“I would urge NHS Lothian to review its capacity and ensure extra beds are introduced at the Royal.”