Substance Misuse in Pregnancy - NHS Lothian

Services List
Services providing maternity care in Lothian
Maternity services in Lothian are part of the acute sector. Approximately
6000 births per year are now delivered in Simpson’s Centre for
Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France.
In West Lothian 2000 births per year are delivered in the Maternity Unit
at St John’s Hospital, Livingston.
Maternity care is now essentially community based and midwife & GP
managed. Most Consultant Obstetricians run outreach clinics in community
health centres throughout Lothian. Both Simpson’s Centre for
Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and St John’s
Hospital Maternity Unit run ‘high risk’ pregnancy clinics.
Hospital maternity units in Lothian
� The Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA.
Tele. 0131 536 1000
� Maternity Unit, St John’s Hospital, Howden Road West, Livingston,
West Lothian EH54 6PP.
Tele. 01506 419 666
Midwives are specially trained in pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care.
They are usually the lead professional for women with ‘low risk’
pregnancies. The midwife undertakes a continuous risk assessment
throughout pregnancy and refers to other appropriate medical
professionals if they detect deviations from the norm (Scottish Executive
2001). They also have a significant role in health education and in
supporting parents in the transition to parenthood. All pregnant women in
Lothian are allocated a named midwife at booking. This will normally be a
midwife attached to their GP surgery.
Obstetricians/Gynaecologists are experts in all aspects of pregnancy and
childbirth. Obstetricians have expertise in treating complications of
pregnancy and childbirth and offering specialist advice, screening and
treatment. Women with a medium to high risk pregnancy will have their
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