Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has condemned the SNP Government for its “utter failure” to properly plan staffing for the NHS.
The Scottish Conservative MSP spoke out after fresh figures showed that nursing and midwifery vacancies in Scotland have broken the 4,000 barrier for the first time while more than half of the 514 empty consultant post have lain vacant for more than six months.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “It is clear that the recent disappointing news about the maternity service at Dr Gray’s is rooted in the utter failure of the SNP Government to make proper plans for the NHS’s workforce.
“The SNP have had 12 years to get this right and so far as expectant mums in Moray are concerned the result is that far too many of them are still having to travel to Aberdeen to give birth.
“With such an inadequate pool of qualified staff to draw upon it is hardly surprising that an underfunded health board like NHS Grampian is struggling to fill positions.
“In the light of the continued uncertainty which is causing widespread anxiety in Moray, it is vital that the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Jeane Freeman, comes back to Moray to answer directly the questions being put to NHS Grampian by local people, including the Keep Mum campaign group.”
