Motion
Scotland’s Maternity Services
S6M-19512 · Motion For Debate · lodged by Baillie, Jackie
Lodged on
03 Nov 2025Heard / answered on
05 Nov 2025Watch the chamber session on SPTV · lands on the meetings recorded on 05 Nov 2025
That the Parliament is alarmed by the serious patient safety issues raised in recent inspection reports of maternity services, and calls on the Scottish Government to launch a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity and neonatal services across Scotland.
Backed by
Supported by 2 additional MSPs
Lab 2
Lodged by
Baillie, Jackie
(Scottish Labour).
- Mochan, Carol (Lab)
- Sweeney, Paul (Lab)
Final vote on motion (as amended)
05 Nov 2025
Carried
Show MSPs
For
73Against
27Abstain
20Not voted
9Amendments incorporated
- S6M-19512.3 Gray, Neil — carried 67/53: As an amendment to motion S6M-19512 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Scotland’s Maternity Services), leave out from “, and calls” to end and insert “; agrees that a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services should take place if Scotland’s new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce recommends it, and that it should give full consideration to staff and patient welfare; notes that the taskforce will review the findings of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s inspections into all maternity units in Scotland; recognises that no neonatal unit in Scotland is closing, and notes that the new model of neonatal intensive care in Scotland was recommended by the Best Start 2017 report, following robust clinical evidence on the safest and best possible model for the sickest babies.”
Computer-generated best guess
Possible final motion text after carried amendments
This is a computer’s best guess at applying carried amendments to the original motion text. It uses simple text rules for phrases such as “insert at end”, “after X insert Y”, and “leave out from X to end and insert Y”. Treat it as an aid, not the official motion text.
That the Parliament is alarmed by the serious patient safety issues raised in recent inspection reports of maternity services; agrees that a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services should take place if Scotland’s new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce recommends it, and that it should give full consideration to staff and patient welfare; notes that the taskforce will review the findings of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s inspections into all maternity units in Scotland; recognises that no neonatal unit in Scotland is closing, and notes that the new model of neonatal intensive care in Scotland was recommended by the Best Start 2017 report, following robust clinical evidence on the safest and best possible model for the sickest babies.
Applied by the parser
-
S6M-19512.3: leave out from ", and calls" to end and insert As an amendment to motion S6M-19512 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Scotland’s Maternity Services), leave out from “, and calls” to end and insert “; agrees that a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services should take place if Scotland’s new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce recommends it, and that it should give full consideration to staff and patient welfare; notes that the taskforce will review the findings of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s inspections into all maternity units in Scotland; recognises that no neonatal unit in Scotland is closing, and notes that the new model of neonatal intensive care in Scotland was recommended by the Best Start 2017 report, following robust clinical evidence on the safest and best possible model for the sickest babies.”
In the Official Report
Debated in chamber — 6 contributions reference this
-
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Chamber
· 05 Nov 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2025 [Draft]
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19512, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on Scotland’s maternity services. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak bu…
-
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Nov 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2025 [Draft]
There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S6M-19512.3, in the name of Neil Gray, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19512, in the name of…
-
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Nov 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2025 [Draft]
The next question is, that amendment S6M-19512.2, in the name of Sandesh Gulhane, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19512, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on Scotland’s maternity services, be agreed to.…
-
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Nov 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2025 [Draft]
The next question is, that amendment S6M-19512.1, in the name of Willie Rennie, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19512, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on Scotland’s maternity services, be agreed to. …
-
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Nov 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2025 [Draft]
The next question is, that motion S6M-19512, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on Scotland’s maternity services, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
-
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Chamber
· 05 Nov 2025 · Meeting of the Parliament 05 November 2025 [Draft]
The result of the division on motion S6M-19512, in the name of Jackie Baillie, as amended, is: For 73, Against 27, Abstentions 20. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament is alarmed by t…
Amendments and how the chamber decided
-
S6M-19512Selected itemCarried 73/2703 Nov 2025 · Motion For Debate · Baillie, JackieThat the Parliament is alarmed by the serious patient safety issues raised in recent inspection reports of maternity services, and calls on the Scottish Government to launch a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity and neonatal services across Scotland.
-
S6M-19512.1Linked amendment/item04 Nov 2025 · Amendment · Rennie, WillieAs an amendment to motion S6M-19512 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Scotland’s Maternity Services), insert at end “; notes that, following the downgrading of the consultant-led maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital in 2016, women in Caithness can face a 100 mile trip down the A9 to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to give birth, and calls ...
-
S6M-19512.2Linked amendment/itemDefeated 54/6704 Nov 2025 · Amendment · Gulhane, SandeshAs an amendment to motion S6M-19512 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Scotland’s Maternity Services), insert at end “; recognises that a comprehensive NHS workforce plan is required for doctors, nurses and midwives to address staffing shortages, and that women in rural areas in particular are facing difficult journeys to access maternity services...
-
S6M-19512.3Linked amendment/itemCarried 67/5304 Nov 2025 · Amendment · Gray, NeilAs an amendment to motion S6M-19512 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Scotland’s Maternity Services), leave out from “, and calls” to end and insert “; agrees that a national investigation into the design and delivery of maternity services should take place if Scotland’s new Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce recommends it, a...