CONCERNS WERE growing last night for the long-term future of Montrose maternity unit as a campaign was launched to save it.
Mums-to-be do not know if they will be able to give birth in Montrose, with NHS Tayside still unable to identify a date for reopening.
The infirmary has been closed for three weeks due to the failure of the heating and water systems.
Maternity services have been transferred to Arbroath Infirmary, with 10 babies already born there rather than Montrose since the April 24 closure.
Montrose woman Fiona Pollock, who is expecting her third child with partner Chris in nine days, is among those unhappy.
She said: “The unit has been under threat before and there is a real worry in thecommunity that NHS Tayside will use the current problems as an excuse to make these temporary measures permanent.
“The fact that they are unable or unwilling to provide any kind of timescales as to when the infirmary will reopen fuels the rumours and speculation, which causes further uncertainty for expectant mums.”
Fiona, who is mum to Rhea, 4, andKellor, 2, said: “This situation has thrown up some real practical issues.
“I’ve never been to the Arbroath maternity unit. We do know where the building itself is but have no idea of parking or how to get into the unit.
“We’d been given the impression more than once that the unit would be reopened before my due date so we didn’t think this was necessary.
“However, we will still be accessing the same team of midwives so I don’t think anyone has any concerns about the quality of the care we will receive.”
A new maternity unit for Montrose was originally planned for 2004 by NHSTayside but the process has repeatedly stalled during the past decade.
The project was launched again in 2009 but was shelved a year later.
A Facebook page has now been set up, which is called Save Montrose Maternity Unit/Midwife Team by Karen Law, from Padanaram.
Karen, a massage and hypnobirthing practitioner, has supported parents who have given birth in Montrose.
She said: “Concerns are high. Back in early 2010, a new-build was all set tocommence but was shelved with just a week to go.
“Back then the current building was deemed unfit for purpose, so there are fears that nothing has changed since then.
“When the Montrose maternity unit’s Facebook page had an update stating that the position regarding reopening was still uncertain, I thought it was time to act.
“It is important that NHS Tayside knows just how important the unit is to the women and their partners who have birthed, and plan to, birth there. Not knowing if the birth unit will be open before they go into labour is notconducive to calm, peaceful birthing.
“Long term concerns are that evenif the boiler is repaired how long before another problem arises within the oldbuilding?”
For a second day in succession, NHS Tayside did not respond to direct questions from The Courier seeking assurances on the long-term future of the maternity unit and infirmary.
gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk