MSP blaming cost-saving measures as maternity beds are halved in Fife

The number of maternity beds in Fife has been halved, despite a 12% rise in births.

Dunfermline MSP Cara Hilton described as shocking figures that revealed the region had just 68 maternity beds, compared to 133 seven years ago.

She said cuts had been driven by cost-saving adding: “Fife mothers are not having half the babies they had seven years ago.”

She has now repeated a call for a root and branch review of maternity services.

NHS Fife claimed that Mrs Hilton’s comments had the potential to mislead the public.

Chief operating officer for acute services Scott McLean said: “To assess the state of maternity services solely by the number of beds available does not provide an accurate reflection of the way services and models of care have evolved.”

For more on this story see The Courier or try our digital edition.