Moray politicians briefed on future of Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin
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NHS Grampian issued an update on the future of Dr Gray's Hospital at an MSP/MP briefing today(February 24).
During the discussions, which saw both Moray MP Douglas Ross and Moray MSP Richard Lochhead attend, the health board confirmed that they are now ready to start recruitment for key posts that will be crucial to plans to restore maternity services at Dr Gray's.
A spokesperson for NHS Grampian said: "We are pleased to be working jointly with colleagues in NHS Highland to deliver integrated maternity services and offer obstetric-led births in Dr Gray's in the future.
"Recruitment is key to being able to achieve this and we are working with the Scottish Government to progress this in the coming weeks."
Following the meeting, Mr Lochhead said that he will now seek urgent approval of funding from the Scottish Government to allow these posts to be filled as quickly as possible.
Mr Lochhead said: "Restoration of maternity services is of course a key part of plans for Dr Gray’s future and NHS Grampian confirmed to me they are now ready to start recruitment for staff needed to reinstate those services.
"Hopefully now that the Scottish Government has passed its budget this week, the health board will quickly be given the green light to go ahead and recruit, and I am in touch with the health secretary to ensure that is the case.”
However, Moray's MP Douglas Ross slammed what he said was a "complete lack of progress" when it comes to restoring fully-led consultant services, or Model 6, at the hospital.
He added that expectant mums in Moray and campaigners such as KeepMum have been "let down" and that updates on plans and funding for model 6 must come as a matter of urgency.
Mr Ross said: "There is shamefully still a total lack of urgency from both the health secretary and the health board when it comes to updating Moray mothers on any progress, if any has indeed been made."
He added: "People in Moray have long felt officials and the board of NHS Grampian do not listen to them and sadly this latest meeting I attended confirmed this to me.
"It’s unacceptable that we have been treated this way by the current and previous management of the health board and they must finally start delivering for the area, because for too long it feels Moray has been an afterthought for them.”
