Ross disappointed by another night-time closure of Elgin children’s ward
Moray MP Douglas Ross has expressed bitter disappointment that NHS Grampian is to close the children’s ward at Dr Gray’s hospital to admissions at night.
Douglas said: “This is dreadful news and totally unacceptable for sick children and their families who live in Moray and now face having to travel to Aberdeen for hospital treatment.
“First, we were told that Dr Gray’s had secured enough staff from February to keep Ward 2, the children’s ward, open. Then one of the junior doctors resigned, but still the ward was to be kept open 24 hours a day for sick children to be assessed and treated.
“Now, out of the blue, we are told that there will be no local specialist paediatric service available between 10pm and 8am every day. It is the worst possible news. I have discussed this with NHS officials today and will be meeting with them as a matter of urgency.
“I know everyone at Dr Gray’s has worked hard in the past few weeks to minimise the need to send patients to Aberdeen, but we are now in the regrettable position again where if a child in Moray gets sick during the night, they and their family face a considerable journey to ARI.
“This diminished service and ongoing uncertainty is unacceptable and we need to ensure that we can find a sustainable solution so we can guarantee the local health service people in Moray have every right to expect.