Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD SEEKS UPDATE FROM HEALTH SECRETARY ON CLINIC PROVISION AT DR GRAY'S

MSP for Moray, Richard Lochhead, has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison MSP, seeking an update in relation to outpatient clinic provision at Dr Gray’s.  Many clinics are lacking, largely due to a lack of consultants, and has resulted in numerous constituents contacting Mr Lochhead to raise their concerns.

Mr Lochhead has raised the individual cases of numerous constituents with the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian in recent weeks and, while there has been some signs of progress, for example, the Chief Executive Malcolm Wright has confirmed that he feels confident that an ophthalmology consultant will soon be recruited and will offer a weekly clinic at Dr Gray’s, the hospital is not currently offering a full range of clinics and those that are running often run with delays.

Richard Lochhead has impressed on the Health Secretary that when Moray patients are unable to receive the medical support they need at Dr Gray’s, they are faced with a lengthy journey to Aberdeen (up to a 160 mile round trip!) which is often exhausting, if not impossible.

Mr Lochhead has sought an update from the Health Secretary on what action the Government is taking to improve matters as well as what the Government expects NHS Grampian to be doing to address the shortages at Dr Gray’s. 

Commenting, Mr Lochhead said:

“The delivery of local NHS Services is very important to me and is an issue which I continue to actively pursue.  I am grateful to constituents for taking the time to draw delays and shortages to my attention and I will continue to raise the individual cases of my constituents with the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian as well as the wider issue of clinic provision.

“The delivery of local NHS Services is the responsibility of NHS Grampian but I am keen to highlight the ongoing problems to the Health Secretary, Shona Robison, and to seek her feedback on the challenges faced by Dr Gray’s.  I’ve asked for information as to what action the Government is taking to improve matters as well as what the Government expect NHS Grampian to be doing to address the shortages at Dr Gray’s.

“In recent months I have listened to the views of NHS staff, including the consultants at Dr Gray’s, and of course patients to ensure I hear a wide range of views.  The stumbling block with the provision of services at Dr Gray’s is often the difficulty in recruiting staff to key posts and this is why I’m interested to hear what is being done at a national as well as more local level.

“It is certainly not all bad news, and I was heartened to hear that the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian feels confident that they will soon recruit a consultant who will offer a weekly ophthalmology clinic at Dr Grays but with many services in Moray being either fragile or in abeyance it is absolutely key that it is a top priority for NHS Grampian to fill these posts so that Dr Gray’s can offer a full range of clinics to folk in Moray.”