Ross calls for public meeting with NHS Grampian over children’s ward and local services
Moray MP Douglas Ross is calling for a public meeting to discuss health services in Moray.
This comes after Douglas held urgent talks with senior managers from NHS Grampian on Friday to discuss the future of the children’s ward at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. He was keen to meet as soon as possible following the announcement that the ward is due to close its doors to admissions between 10pm and 8am, from tonight, due to staffing problems.
Douglas said: “Since NHS Grampian’s announcement on Wednesday, I have been contacted by many people who are naturally very upset that the ward appears to be under threat again with no night-time service available, and worries about the sustainability of the children’s unit and NHS services in Moray in general, if staffing is posing such a problem.”
“Following my meeting with senior managers last week I plan to convene a public meeting about health services in Moray and have written to the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian to ask him to attend along with local managers.
“It is crucial that we find a sustainable solution going forward. NHS Grampian must give reassurances, not just about the children’s ward, but about the future of services here in general.
“There is a lot of talk locally that there is a drive to reduce the services available in Moray and centralise them in Aberdeen. Obviously this is something I would fight against vigorously, but I would hope an open meeting would allow both sides to hear about the situation in Moray.
“NHS Grampian can use this meeting to refute any claims about downgrading services in Moray and it will also give members of the public a platform to raise concerns they have. There is no doubt that we have many dedicated and professional staff at Dr Grays and I see this as an opportunity to also support them by getting guarantees from the Health Board going forward.”