Moray SNP News
LOCHHEAD ENCOURAGES ATTENDANCE AT DR GRAY'S EVENTS
16/04/2018Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, is encouraging members of the public to attend a series of events being organised by NHS Grampian as part of its efforts to provide a long-term solution to the staffing issues that have affected Women and Children’s service at Dr Gray’s Hospital.
Whilst welcoming these events and encouraging attendance at them Mr Lochhead has also made it clear that these events should not distract the NHS from urgently dealing with the pressures on the local service.
The SNP MSP has also been at the forefront of bringing public sector organisations and businesses together recently with the view to producing a ‘Move to Moray’ incentive package to encourage more applicants for vacant NHS and wider public sector roles.
Commenting, Mr Lochhead said:
“For some time now I have been calling on NHS Grampian to better engage with the local community and to ensure transparency in terms of the current pressures facing the women’s and children services at Dr Gray’s. It’s important as many people as possible make it along to these public events to ask their questions and discuss the current situation.
“It is vital that the NHS remain focused on outcomes with the restoration of a full round the clock service for both obstetrics and paediatrics being the top priority. These meetings must not be allowed to become a distraction from the need for urgent action to deal with the pressures.
“Any redesign of the service in terms of working more closely with other hospitals, or staff deployment and recruitment, must deliver the service an area like Moray demands and expects as the local community will, quite rightly, settle for nothing less.
“It is also important that NHS management in Aberdeen listen to staff as well as the public as part of this exercise.”
The sessions will take place in Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Dufftown, Keith and Lossiemouth with each taking place between 1pm and 4pm and 6pm and 8 pm at each venue.
The dates and venues are as follows:
17 April - Elgin, Town Hall
18 April - Forres, Forres House Community Centre
19 April - Buckie Community Centre
23 April - Dufftown Community Centre
24 April - Keith Community Centre
25 April - Lossiemouth Community Centre