Maternity services for Grampian : Keep MUM question commitment to Dr Gray's
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Campaigners have demanded NHS Grampian shows it is genuinely committed to restoring a full maternity service to Dr Gray's.
The call comes after Caroline Hiscox, the health board's chief executive, stated in a public meeting yesterday that it could be take between seven and 10 years before a consultant-led service returns to the Elgin hospital.
Kirsty Watson, of the Keep MUM campaign group, has reacted to this by pointing out that a whole new hospital could be built in less time.
She said: "It’s almost four years since this service was downgraded and there’s been no progress.
"In fact, we were originally told in 2018 it would take a year to restore the service. Now we’re being told it could take 10 years.
"We need to probe this timescale and get the actual facts."
Mrs Watson added: "We say to NHS Grampian and to the Scottish Government: tell us exactly what needs to be done to get this service restored. Spell out the problems and tell us the solutions.
"What infrastructure and support services does Dr Gray’s Hospital need?
"What staff does it need? What do these staff need?
"The most important factor of all is that NHS Grampian is genuinely committed, hearts and minds, to restoring the consultant led service.
"Sadly, we don’t have any evidence that they are."
Dr Gray's maternity services were downgraded in 2018 due to a lack of consultants.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland's Health Secretary, has given NHS Grampian until the end of the year to come up with a plan as to how a consultant-led service can be re-introduced.
Following a visit to Moray last month, Mr Yousaf also pledged an additional £5 million for both Dr Gray's and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, where many Moray mothers are to be sent until the full service returns.
A written report was compiled by senior management for yesterday's NHS Grampian meeting.
It stated: "We will work in partnership with the Scottish Government, NHS Highland, our staff, and the communities that we serve to make progress with these recommendations on a phased basis.
"Our priority remains the delivery of safe and sustainable maternity services and we share the Health Secretary’s commitment to ensuring expectant mothers receive the best possible care."
Related article: Consultant-led services at Dr Grays could take ten years
