NHS Grampian recruits maternity consultant at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin
A doctor has been appointed as a new maternity consultant at the hospital where she gave birth to one of her own children.
NHS Grampian has appointed Dr Mandy Hunter as a new consultant obstetrician to care for women with complicated pregnancies at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
She says it will be a “privilege” to look after women and their families.
The appointment comes as the health board continues to recruit staff to ensure that the maternity unit at the hospital is fully restored by the end of 2026.
Since the downgrade in 2018, the majority of Moray women have had to travel more than an hour out of their way to give birth in Aberdeen.
Dr Hunter has more than 13 years of experience as a consultant and specialises in medical education and training, labour and intrapartum care, and unplanned pregnancy and early pregnancy care.
She said: “I’m keen to establish a robust local service for women having babies or who need to see a gynaecologist.
“I would also like to develop the medical, nursing and midwifery staff training opportunities and experience in Elgin.”
She added: “I feel lucky in Elgin as there are some really beautiful, scenic places nearby.
“My now teenage sons have very fond memories of Scribbles on the High Street for macaroni cheese and a coke float as a treat when they were younger.
“We love being back here.”
Originally from Grangemouth, Dr Hunter previously worked at Dr Gray’s from 2011 to 2015.
But she has now returned to the hospital and will split her time between Moray and Raigmore in Inverness.
She has also been involved in discussions over the last few years primarily about redeveloping services in Elgin.
Dr Hunter said: “I’m still doing one day a week at Raigmore supporting elective caesarean sections and daytime on calls, to keep those skills current until we can use them here in Dr Gray’s.
“It’s a good mix and I’m pleased to be working with both excellent teams.
“Pregnancy and birth is such a major event for women and their families that it feels a real privilege to look after them.
“Gynaecology is much less spoken about but just as important over the course of women’s lives.”
Earlier this month, NHS Grampian reaffirmed its “unwavering” commitment to fully restoring services in Elgin.
It also announced that it has recruited well over half of the staff required to restore maternity services in the region with Dr Hunter among those.
But recruitment continues with more Moray women in recent months choosing to give birth in Elgin.
