Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD COMMENTS ON HEALTH SECRETARY VISIT TO DR GRAY'S

Richard Lochhead MSP has welcomed the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman’s visit to Dr Gray’s Hospital for further talks on maternity and children’s services in Moray.

Commenting Mr Lochhead said:

“I’m pleased that the Health Secretary has returned to Dr Gray’s to meet with NHS Management, local staff, and the Keep MUM campaign – she has shown leadership and a deep personal interest in restoring a consultant led maternity service to Moray.

“I welcome the initial steps that have been taken, such as the restoration of elective caesarean sections and the recruitment of two new locum paediatricians.  However, whilst this is a step in the right direction we need to see NHS Grampian expedite the finalising of phase one of the plan to reinstate a consultant led service at Dr Gray’s, and we need to see further improvements in order to maintain confidence that NHS Grampian is treating this issue with the urgency that it deserves.

“I’ve been assured many times in the last year that this is not an issue about money – as some politicians keep suggesting – but rather the challenge is attracting and retaining the health professionals needed to run the service.  Whilst it is encouraging that we now have more paediatricians working in Elgin, which has allowed women’s and children’s services to be stepped up, we need NHS Grampian to be pulling out all the stops and leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to get the rest of the team in place to enable restoration of a full service as soon as possible.”