A review of maternity services in Galloway is set to begin.
Campaigners have been calling for the birthing suite at Galloway Community Hospital to be reopened.
It closed in 2018 due to a staffing shortage and ever since mums have had to travel to Dumfries to give birth.
But some haven’t made it that far, with numerous cases of mothers giving birth in laybys.
The region’s health board has now appointed two members of NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff – medical director Crawford McGuffie and executive nurse director Jennifer Wilson – to act as independent chairs of a review of services.
They will be supported by midwifery expert Angela Cunningham, a retired associate director for women’s and children’s services.
Ms Wilson said: “I am delighted that the community engagement work focused on maternity services in Wigtownshire is now getting underway.
“I am conscious that this is an aspect of health and social care services where there is a very large amount of interest, and where a significant number of people are very keen to contribute their perspectives.
Two drop-in sessions have already been arranged – in Stranraer Library on March 3 and Newton Stewart’s McMillan Hall on March 14. Both sessions will run from 10.30am to 3pm.
And places can be booked at a session in Wigtown on March 22 by emailing dg.maternityservices-comms@nhs.scot
Dr McGuffie said: “From mid-February onwards, we’ll be going out across communities in Wigtownshire to seek to speak with people about maternity services, to discuss the challenges and limitations you face, to ensure we’ve fully considered the options available to us, and from that to seek to develop a route map for the future.
“Everyone should be supported to take part, and we would ask everyone to help promote the engagement timetable that has been put in place, and to help ensure everyone who wishes to play their part has the opportunity to do so.
An online survey is also available at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/maternity2023
