A breakthrough in giving women a lifesaving test for a serious pregnancy illness has come with the first health board confirming they will roll it out.
Scottish mums-to-be are currently denied the PlGF test which diagnoses pre-eclampsia, an illness which causes babies to be born prematurely and pregnant women to risk seizures and organ failure.
Early last year the Scottish Government finally approved the use of the test, following a campaign by The Sunday Post.
But, in May, we revealed that there were still no health boards actually offering the test more than a year after its approval amid claims of a lack of funding for laboratory testing.
PlGF tests have been used in England for three years.
But now NHS Tayside has become the first Scottish health board to confirm when it will begin giving the test to pregnant women – saying they will be available in nine to 12 months.
Campaigners welcomed the news but called for testing to be made available as soon as possible to all Scottish mums-to-be at risk.
First Minister John Swinney, who met campaigners last week, said that the Scottish Government was “urgently engaging with boards” to roll it out and improve maternity services.
MSP Tess White, who suffered pre-eclampsia with her son, James, said: “I attended the NHS Tayside meeting where they confirmed PlGF testing would be available in nine to 12 months.
“This is very welcome progress for mothers and babies at risk of pre-eclampsia but comes 17 months after the Scottish Health Technologies Group approved its use here.
“The test is available in 95% of NHS trusts in England and we want all mums and babies to have access to this good standard of pregnancy care.”
Charity Action On Pre-eclampsia said: “This is excellent news from NHS Tayside and needs to be an exemplar for the other boards.
“Doctors will be better equipped to tackle pre-eclampsia. Scotland can’t have a postcode lottery and the other boards need to strip back barriers to implement it.”
MSP Monica Lennon said: “This is a major breakthrough for the rollout of Placental Growth Factor testing in Scotland.
“The first minister’s personal commitment to the pre-eclampsia community in Scotland is hugely welcome.”
She paid tribute to the parents who campaign after losing babies to pre-eclampsia and urged a Scotland-wide access to PlGF tests. Swinney said: “I know that pre-eclampsia is a serious condition, and that a diagnosis can be a difficult time for women and their families.”
He welcomed meeting the parents to discuss its value in supporting doctors to detect the illness.
Swinney added: “The Scottish Government expects all NHS boards to ensure recommendations on this testing are implemented effectively and consistently.
“We are urgently engaging with boards to understand how we might be able to help them with that work, and we are committed to continuous improvement in maternity services across Scotland to deliver the best and safest care for mothers and babies.”
NHS Tayside confirmed the rollout, saying their labs, maternity services and finance are working to introduce the test, likely in nine to 12 months.
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