First Minister John Swinney has outlined government plans for improving pregnancy and perinatal care across the country – a message backed by formal NHS partner InnoScot Health

Mr Swinney announced his first Programme for Government 2024-25 on Wednesday, foregrounding “an intense focus on early intervention” for both infants and new mothers, among key priorities.

The programme acknowledges persistent global health inequalities for women as well as “increasing developmental concerns among children following the pandemic”.

The First Minister insists that “efforts to address that must start before birth, with the circumstances experienced during pregnancy, at birth and during the earliest years having lifetime impacts”.

Following the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan (2021-2024) and Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC), he says they are committed to “supporting babies, children, and young people through the early, formative years of their life”.

Mr Swinney further pledges to “ensure more women receive care and support from the same midwife from pregnancy through birth, prioritising those who are most likely to benefit, such as minority ethnic women and women with additional social needs”.

Last year, InnoScot Health announced its innovation call targeted at making breakthroughs in pregnancy and perinatal care through the identification of efficient, inclusive new thinking from NHS Scotland staff to promote and support good maternal and child health.

Head of Innovation at InnoScot Health, Robert Rea said: “It’s positive to hear the First Minister spotlighting this significant need and championing improvement in an area which we firmly believe can not only benefit from empowered healthcare innovators, but also through recognising wider societal issues such as a gender health gap exacerbated by deprivation.

“It is vital that we come together to improve maternity and neonatal care for all women, babies, and families in Scotland, while placing more focus on inequalities and mental health – the latter in particular being positively supported by £120 million for continued service improvements, according to the Programme for Government.

“InnoScot Health wants to assist innovators in their aim to progress fresh ideas that actively support, those collective health needs and help to tackle disparities.”

The organisation believes that the deep expertise and experience of the NHS workforce can inspire change and improve how the service provides the right inclusive care for every mother and child. All ideas are welcomed – from simple to complex, and from any health board and any role or medical discipline.

Whilst innovation in pregnancy and perinatal care is very often, though not always, a new device for managing and monitoring pregnancy, InnoScot Health also evaluates innovative ideas to improve labour and delivery or technologies for neonates needing specialist care. Improving outcomes for mothers with co-morbidities especially around diabetes is a further priority, as is support for women experiencing mental health problems before and after delivery.

Mr Swinney says the government will further “work with health visitors to reduce inequalities through prevention and early intervention,” adding that high-quality public services can “improve people’s lives here and now, but also play an important role as the first line of defence against longer‑term impacts that inequalities have on people, the economy, and our public services”.

InnoScot Health Innovation Manager Frances Ramsay said: “It is only through heightened understanding of pregnancy and perinatal health needs that we can make progress on improving outcomes for all women and children, in turn impacting on the wellbeing and prosperity of the wider population.

“Amid government efforts, heightened awareness, and increasingly open discourse around women’s mental health and wellbeing issues, there is great opportunity for positive change.

“That process can be accelerated by NHS Scotland workers who come forward with their ideas and solutions.”