Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD RECEIVES RESPONSE FROM HEALTH SECRETARY FOLLOWING THEIR MEETING TO DISCUSS DR GRAY'S NHS GRAMPIAN INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE RESPONDS TO MORAY MSP WELCOMING HIS INVITATION TO MEET

Richard Lochhead has today received a response from Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Shona Robison MSP, following on from their meeting on 10th December when they discussed the challenges faced by Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin. 

In her response, Ms Robison has confirmed that she shares Mr Lochhead’s appreciation of the need for people from all over Grampian to have access to the ‘best possible healthcare’ and reiterated her expectation that NHS Grampian provide this to all its population.  She also confirmed that NHS Grampian, as part of its overarching Clinical Strategy, has committed to include a high level statement in its March/April 2015 Plan outlining the key role that Dr Gray’s plays in providing high quality healthcare to the people of Moray and Grampian. Furthermore, she clearly stated that services in Moray should not be detrimentally affected as attention is turned to making the necessary improvements resulting from recent Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) reports.

Yesterday Mr Lochhead also received correspondence from NHS Interim Chief Executive, Malcolm Wright, in which Mr Wright welcomed Mr Lochhead’s invitation to come to Moray to meet with him to discuss issues relating to Dr Gray’s.  Work is now underway to firm up a date and time.

Commenting on the progress, Mr Lochhead said:

“I welcome the Health Secretary’s assurances and her appreciation of the important role Dr Gray’s continues to play in delivering excellent healthcare for 95,000 people here in Moray and the wider region.  Shona Robison’s confirmation that the key role of Dr Gray’s will be outlined by NHS Grampian as part of their overarching Clinical Strategic planning in March/April is encouraging and will offer some welcome clarity on the future role of our hospital.

“I continue to receive the views of both NHS staff and patients and would appreciate anyone with a relevant interest to get in touch to share their thoughts with me.

“I look forward to meeting with the Interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian in the coming weeks when I intend to raise any ongoing concerns about challenges faced by Dr Gray’s as well as any general issues raised with me by constituents that relate to the hospital.”