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

Campaigners are calling for the urgent implementation of a life-saving test for pregnant women and their babies after the Scottish Government last week announced it would provide health boards with vital funds.

The Scottish Government is to give NHS health boards £259,000 to make tests for pre-eclampsia available to all women at risk. The move follows nearly six years of campaigning by pressure group Action On Pre-Eclampsia (Apec) and the Sunday Post. Apec welcomed the new funding – and called for the test to be made available at Scottish ­hospitals at the earliest possible time.

Health Secretary @NeilCGray has announced @Scotgov funding for all health boards to provide a blood test for pregnant women who need it, to help identify pre-eclampsia.

More information about pre-eclampsia here: https://t.co/NJmN1aFjxF pic.twitter.com/Ib44FH9tmq

— Scot Gov Health (@scotgovhealth) August 29, 2024

The charity’s CEO, Marcus Green, said: “The money has been provided for 2024/25. The Scottish Government has been clear that it expects delivery by boards and the boards cannot shirk their responsibility. We commend the Sunday Post’s ­campaigning and extend our thanks to the mums who worked courageously to help make this happen. We will be keeping a close eye on whether the test becomes readily available for all mothers at risk of pre-eclampsia in Scotland. There is no doubt that access to it will help save the lives of mothers and babies across Scotland.”

The campaign

After years of determined campaigning, we’ve secured a monumental victory. Life-saving pre-eclampsia testing will now be available across Scotland, ensuring better care for mothers and babies. A heartfelt thank you to all the brave parents who shared their deeply moving stories. Your courage has truly made a difference!

Many ­heartbroken parents have to watch their infants die after being born prematurely as doctors battle to save their desperately ill mothers. They suffer multi-organ failure and seizures in the worst cases and delivering the babies is the only effective way of halting it.

A blood test called PlGF helps ­diagnose pre-eclampsia and allows doctors to intervene and treat the mothers, allowing babies more time in the womb.

MSP Tess White, who became ­seriously ill from pre-eclampsia while pregnant with her son James, said: “After raising PlGF testing at First Minister’s Questions and then, along with other campaigners, meeting the First Minister, I am delighted the Scottish Government will fund testing.

“PlGF testing is available in 95% of NHS trusts in England and has been offered since 2016. NHS Tayside intends to introduce the test within a year, but this new funding must expedite its implementation across all health boards.

“I pay tribute to all the campaigning parents who shared deeply moving stories about the impact of pre-eclampsia, and to Apec for its tireless activism. I will monitor the delivery of PlGF testing closely over the coming months and would appreciate any updates the Scottish Government is able to provide regarding progress.”

The test

The Scottish Health Technologies Group approved PlGF for use in hospitals in Scotland 18 months ago. But, in May, we revealed that, despite this, doctors were still not giving pregnant women the test. A Sunday Post investigation found health boards were refusing to bring in the test due to a lack of laboratory testing capacity.

Lynsey Hamilton lost her baby daughter Carys when she suffered pre-eclampsia. She bravely spoke out after the tragedy. She said: “We know the outcome for our family would have been very different if the test had been available in Scotland.”

Stuart and Ami Geddes lost their son Clark to pre-eclampsia after Ami became dangerously ill. Stuart said: “When Ami and I had Clark, he was ­perfect – but his lungs just weren’t strong enough and he tragically passed away. Since then, we’ve campaigned to get proper pre-eclampsia testing for women in Scotland who really need it. Funding it is brilliant news and we could not be prouder that our little man’s life will be saving other mums and babies.”

© Supplied by Lynsey Hamilton

MSP Monica Lennon said: “This is a momentous victory for a campaign that united parents, politicians and experts with the sole aim of making life-saving pre-eclampsia testing available throughout Scotland. But it is also a bittersweet moment for families whose lives have been changed forever by pre-eclampsia.

“I pay tribute to Lynsey and Bradley, parents of Carys, and to the parents of Clark, Ami and Stuart. Scotland must never forget these babies and how their stories spurred the Scottish Government into action after a pivotal Bute House summit.

The Scottish Government said: “We have provided funding to health boards to implement the pre-eclampsia blood test as soon as possible.” It added that health boards had been asked to submit implementation timelines by the end of August and these would be monitored by the NHS Planning and Delivery Board.

Lynsey Hamilton said: “This is great news for the campaigners who have fought hard for women to receive this life-saving test through the NHS and we thank the Sunday Post for giving us a voice. We’d like to thank John Swinney and the other politicians involved for listening to us and our story and taking action on this. We truly believe this test would have saved Carys’s life and the outcome would have been different. If this saves any other family going through what we have it is very much welcomed.”