MOTHERS-TO-BE could face a 68-mile detour to get to a maternity unit due to a shortage of midwives.
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital midwifery unit is currently short of 20.8 full time-equivalent posts due to vacancies, maternity leave, secondments and long-sickness.
New staff have been hired and existing staff have been taking on additional hours.
The move means the city’s birthing pool, located within the Aberdeen midwifery unit, could be inaccessible for some expectant mothers.
Those wanting to have a water birth could have to travel to facilities in Peterhead or Elgin instead.
Interim chief midwife Jane Raitt said: “Women can be assured that their birth plan will be maintained.
“Midwife-led care and all choices will still be provided.”
Professor Jamie Weir from the Patient Action Coordination Team said: “The safety of the mother and baby is paramount and we strongly support that.”
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