Halcro Johnston questions Health Secretary on Dr Gray’s concerns
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston questioned the health secretary, Jeane Freeman, on measures to reduce the impact of the reduction of maternity and paediatric services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
In November, the Chief Medical Officer’s advisory group made recommendations about restoring services at the hospital. They included a number of proposals to minimise the impact on patients, who have had to travel to alternative facilities in Aberdeen and Inverness to receive a number of procedures previously offered in Elgin.
The Conservative MSP raised the issues with Ms Freeman in the Scottish Parliament, asking if she had confidence that communication with patients had improved since it was singled out for criticism by the review.
Campaign group Keep MUM has called on the chief executive of NHS Grampian to attend a public meeting in January to discuss a range of concerns.
Speaking outside the Chamber, Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“The advisory group pointed out last month that communication between NHS Grampian and affected patients had been poor.
“It seems that, in spite of this, there has been little improvement, with stories from expectant mothers who still didn’t know who to turn to in an emergency or even where they will be giving birth with only weeks of their pregnancy to go.
“The situation that women from across Moray have found themselves in is unacceptable – and while the issues that caused services to be reduced continues, NHS Grampian must ensure that patients are reassured and supported.
“The health secretary, Jeane Freeman, has involved herself in this situation. She should use her influence to ensure that NHS Grampian is taking the needs of patients seriously and that the health board is working effectively to restore services at Dr Gray’s sooner rather than later.
