Mums of Wishaw's neonatal warriors plan to to battle on to prevent hospital's intensive care downgrade

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Lanarkshire mums fighting to prevent the downgrade of the neonatal unit at University Hospital Wishaw where their premature babies were cared for are ramping up support for their campaign.The Scottish Government has accepted recommendations made in the “Best Start” report 2017, and plans to downgrade the number of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the country from eight to three, which would be situated in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.The award-winning unit in Wishaw is one of the five whose current status would be affected.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Along with hospitals such as Ninewells in Dundee and Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Wishaw would lose its level 3 “specialist intensive care neonatal unit” status.Mums, Monica Sheen, Tammy Johnstone-Little, Lynne McRitchie and Angela Tierney have previously organised rallies at the Scottish Parliament and the hospital while gathering the support of over 20,000 people with a petition.Monica, a district nurse who lives in Overtown, is mum to two-year-old Alfie who was born three months premature at 27 weeks.

He weighed just 1lb 6oz [624g], was immediately placed on a ventilator and spent the first 139 days of his life in Wishaw. He also had to be given CPR on multiple occasions.Following a Freedom of Information request, Monica has