Expectant mothers still missing out on life-saving medical test

Hundreds of expectant mothers have been offered life-saving testing for pre-eclampsia following The Sunday Post’s campaign to make it mandatory in Scotland.

But Health Secretary Neil Gray has confirmed that some health boards are struggling to set up the test.

The condition, which affects as many as one in 10 pregnancies, risks babies being born too early to survive and their mothers ending up in high dependency or intensive care units because of organ failure and seizures.

The Sunday Post campaigned for the Scottish Government to fund the PlGF (placental growth factor) test, which allows doctors and midwives to intervene to save mothers and babies.

The Scottish Government eventually pledged funding of £259,000 in August 2024 for health boards to provide this testing. But a letter from Gray to campaigners has revealed that some health boards in rural areas of Scotland are lagging behind mainly urban health boards in offering PlGF testing.

The letter, to Conservative MSP Tess White, said that only eight of Scotland’s health boards have gone live – NHS Fife, NHS Lothian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Dumfries & Galloway, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Lanarkshire, and NHS Tayside, which currently sends samples to a neighbouring board.

Victory for Sunday Post campaign as Scottish Government agrees funding for life-saving pre-eclampsia tests

Gray added: “We are clear that women in both rural and island areas of Scotland including Borders, should be able to access PlGF.”

Mothers and babies in rural areas face challenges in pregnancy according to maternal and baby charities Sands and Tommy’s.

In the charities’ joint report, Saving Babies Lives 2024, they highlighted problems in recruiting midwives and obstetricians in rural Scotland, vital to ensure safe pregnancies.

White, the MSP for North East Scotland, said: “It’s welcome news that life-saving testing for pre-eclampsia has now gone live across eight NHS health boards.

“It’s testament to the hard work of dedicated campaigners and The Sunday Post for shining a light on such an important issue.”

She added though that she is ­worried about unequal access across Scotland.

“I am very concerned to learn that several health boards with large rural populations have not yet implemented it.

“With mothers and their babies at serious risk, we cannot afford to have a postcode lottery for pre-eclampsia testing in Scotland.

“I will continue to work with charity Action On Pre-eclampsia, the SNP government and campaigners to ensure this vital test is available to all mothers in Scotland.”

Adele Davidson 30, from Bridge of Don, became ill when she was pregnant with her first baby, Odin, now three.

“I was seriously ill and never want any mum to experience this, and so early detection is vital,” she said.

“Obstetricians and midwives closely monitored me in my second pregnancy and baby Rhodes was born safely eight months ago.”

Her health board, NHS Grampian, confirmed it still does not currently offer the test to all mums at risk.

Gray’s letter to campaigners, written two weeks ago, says NHS Grampian is “taking forward the ­necessary work to procure a suitable testing platform and equipment, with a demonstration having taken place at the end of February.”

NHS Grampian was last week given a Scottish Government loan of £67 million to tackle its “overspend”.

White argues though that NHS Grampian has been underfunded by £250m over 10 years.

Unison health union cites underfunding and poor national NHS ­forward planning.

Gray’s letter on testing rollout adds that NHS Highland has ordered the necessary equipment and on delivery, will continue towards ­making testing available.

“We are clear that women in both rural and island areas of Scotland should be able to access PLGF,” he added.

Campaigning charity APEC says it welcomes testing but is determined to see all mothers at risk being offered the test. Its chief executive, Marcus Green, said: “I’m really pleased to see progress in PlGF testing in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government has been clear that it expects boards to deliver and is obviously monitoring the situation, but we will not rest until we see every board implementing the test and using it appropriately.”

The Scottish Government said: “The Scottish Government has ­provided recurring funding to NHS Boards to roll out PLGF-based testing. Currently, approximately 85% of pregnant women in Scotland have access to the test, with approximately 99% of women expected to be able to access the test by summer 2025.

“Discussions with island boards are ongoing, to ensure that women from the three island boards can access PLGF-based testing as part of the overall management of their clinical picture and in line with established pathways of care.”