Colin Beattie MSP has welcomed the announcement of Scottish Government funding of £1.5 million for third sector organisations that provide support to pregnant women, new mothers and their families.
 
The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund will be open for 18 months from October and is designed to support charities to expand and enhance their mental health and wellbeing services.
 
So far, over 10,000 parents, expectant parents and infants have been supported by organisations that have received funding – which amounts to £2.8 million since 2019.
 
Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh said:
 
“New mothers and families in Midlothian North and Musselburgh too often suffer from mental health difficulties at what should be a hugely exciting time.
 
“That is why tailored, specialised support is so important – and this additional funding will enable organisations to provide the services that pregnant women and their families need.
 
“Organisations in Midlothian North and Musselburgh should check their eligibility for the fund, and I know their services – many of which wouldn’t be possible without Scottish Government support – will be invaluable to new mums and dads.”
 
ENDS

SNP GOVERNMENT IS MITIGATING THE DAMAGE OF WESTMINSTER AUSTERITY IN MIDLOTHIAN NORTH AND MUSSELBURGH
 
Colin Beattie MSP has said that the Scottish Government’s budget will provide substantial support to Midlothian North and Musselburgh’s health and social care services, saying the Scottish Government is determined to act within its limited powers to mitigate the damage of Westminster austerity.
 
The Scottish Budget saw £19.5 billion allocated to the Health and Social Care portfolio in 2024-25. This uplift exceeds Barnett Consequentials for health – which are less than they were for 2023-24 – and represents a real-terms increase in funding of 4.3%, or £550 million.
 
Meanwhile the Spring Budget saw further tax cuts at the expense of public services, no additional capital funding and baked-in cuts which are reminiscent of austerity. The IFS has subsequently warned that the NHS is facing the biggest real-terms cuts since the 1970s as spending plans imply a real-terms cut to net public sector investment of £18 billion between 2024–25 and 2028–29.
 
Commenting, Colin Beattie MSP said:
 
“The SNP Scottish Budget set out to support people and Midlothian North and Musselburgh’s health and social care services amid very challenging economic circumstances.
 
“In stark contrast, the latest Tory budget was a betrayal of Scotland’s NHS, with the Chancellor prioritising tax cuts and doing nothing to address the pressures facing frontline services.
 
“With the limited powers it has, the SNP Scottish Government is determined to protect health services, social care providers and those providing that care in [AREA]’s community; providing a real-terms increase in funding which takes the total to over £19 billion for the year ahead.
 
“Under the SNP, the people of Midlothian North and Musselburgh can always trust that health and social care services will be protected – which is at the heart of this budget.”
 
ENDS