Midwives have challenged the push by mothers to keep consultants

NHS Highland is considering the creation of a midwife-led facility at Caithness General Hospital in Wick.

Campaigners say that could compromise safety - a claim rejected by midwives.

Senior midwife Rhona Smith said: "We are trained to deal with normal pregnancies and midwives are the best professionals to do that."

She added: "It gives midwives an opportunity to fully utilise their skills."

Local deliveries

Midwife-led units are being brought in throughout the country.

The number of mothers choosing to give birth at home is also swelling.

In the Skye and Lochalsh area, local deliveries have doubled in the year since a scheme was introduced.

We are looking at weeks and weeks of two midwives needing to be on call 24 hours a day Mary Burnside Midwife

Midwife, Morven Clark, said: "You're actually upgrading services to midwifery care. I don't necessarily see it as downgrading.

"When it's mainly midwifery-led, there's less intervention and a reduction in the (caesarean) section rate."

But cash is needed to provide the extra staff required to meet the growth in home births.

Chief midwife, Mary Burnside, said: "This could be a very demanding time for the midwives.

"We are looking at weeks and weeks of two midwives needing to be on call 24 hours a day in case someone goes into labour."