Bereaved mother leads Holyrood protest demanding overhaul of Scotland's maternity care
Elizabeth Crammond, who suffered three miscarriages, will head a Holyrood protest and a petition on maternity services will be examined next month.
A mother from Kinross, Elizabeth Crammond, who endured three pregnancy losses within 16 months and alleges repeated refusals from an early-pregnancy unit, is set to lead a protest outside Holyrood. After First Minister John Swinney expressed regret for her experience, Crammond launched a petition that has gathered 840 signatures and bipartisan backing. The petition urges the Scottish government to restore a GP duty of care for gynaecology, fertility and maternity, and to introduce a reactive auditing process to curb delays across health boards.
The public petitions committee is scheduled to consider the petition next month, aligning with an independent, whole-system review of maternity services chaired by Professor Christine McCourt. NHS Fife and NHS Tayside have each issued apologies and are reviewing the case, while health secretary Angela Constance has indicated a willingness to meet Crammond. The protest aims to amplify the voices of women who feel one outlet system, which forces self-referrals and removes GP involvement, endangers pregnancies.
Why it matters
It highlights systemic gaps in Scotland’s maternity care that affect many women’s health and safety.
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