Child and Maternal Health

  • FASD Awareness Day 2020

    9th September 2020 by

      The 9th day of the 9th month is internationally recognised as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day.  FASD is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by alcohol exposure in the womb.  It is common in Western countries, with estimated prevalence in the UK at ~3-5%. FASD is a largely preventable condition and we can all...

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  • Using technology to support maternity care – during Covid-19 and beyond

    18th June 2020 by

    Globally, we are in uncharted territory with the emergence of COVID-19 and it’s impact on our way of life.  Scotland’s health and care services are at the forefront of our collective response to support the people of Scotland – thinking differently to redesign provision and maintain essential care.  And with that comes positive innovation and...

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  • Thinking about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

    9th September 2019 by

    To mark International FASD Awareness Day, Scottish Government Professional Advisor, Dr. Christopher Steer, gives an account of FASD action in Scotland. William Sutherland first proposed that alcohol harms the developing fetus more than a century ago in his study of alcoholic mothers detained in Liverpool Jail(1). Over recent decades clinicians and researchers have described and...

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  • Cabinet Secretary visits new Alongside Midwifery Unit in Forth Valley

    6th September 2018 by

    Pregnant women in NHS Forth Valley now have the full range of birth settings to choose from when they come to deliver their baby. Offering women choice is one of many recommendation included in the Best Start report published after the review of maternity services in Scotland. The unit is a pre-existing area of the...

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  • Family Nurse Partnership Scotland – Guest blog

    20th July 2018 by

    Anne, a family nurse in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, has provided our guest blog to share some insights into the role of the family nurse, what it means to her and how it benefits clients. What is the Family Nurse Partnership Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is an early intervention, licensed home visiting programme which is offered to...

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  • FNP Scotland National Conference 2018 – Creating positive futures for young families in Scotland

    3rd July 2018 by

    Last week the Scottish Government hosted the FNP Scotland national conference in Glasgow. The event was attended by around 150 staff from NHS Boards that deliver the Family Nurse Partnership and representatives of central organisations. Delegates were welcomed by Michael Chalmers, the Scottish Government Director of Children and Families, who highlighted the National Performance Framework’s...

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  • Cabinet Secretary announces £1.5 million Family Fund to help meet costs

    4th January 2018 by

    Parents of premature babies in NHS care will now be able to get extra support with the financial cost. Through the Scottish Government’s 2018/19 draft budget the new £1.5 million Family Fund will be available from the 1st of April for parents of premature babies to help with the additional costs they face, such as...

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  • Best Start Implementation – Early Adopter Boards announced

    27th September 2017 by

    Today the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport announced that five Early Adopter Boards have been selected to lead the way across NHS Scotland in implementing a package of recommendations from The Best Start report. We were overwhelmed by the interest in becoming an Early Adopter Board and I want to thank every Board who...

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  • Best Start Implementation Newsletter – Issue 1

    8th September 2017 by

    During the review of Maternity and Neonatal Services, regular newsletters issued to update you on the progress of the review which ultimately resulted in the publication of The Best Start: A Five Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland. We plan to follow the same approach for implementing the recommendations in the...

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  • Update from Jane Grant – Implementation Programme Board

    9th June 2017 by

    This morning I chaired the first meeting of the Implementation Programme Board. I was delighted to see a number of familiar faces around the table, as well as new colleagues, who contributed their views and experience to The Best Start, and whose energy and enthusiasm will carry forward into the implementation of the recommendations contained...

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