Moray MP Douglas Ross has given a ‘cautious welcome’ to the latest announcement regarding maternity services at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin from SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.
The health secretary- who is also currently bidding to be the new First Minister- confirmed today (Friday) that he has approved the plan for integrated maternity services in the area.
Those plans will see consultant-led services return to Dr Gray’s by 2026 meaning that the ‘temporary’ downgrade of maternity services will have lasted eight years.
The plans are being backed by an initial commitment of £6.6 million to support implementation, while Linda de Caestecker has agreed to stay on for another year while NHS Grampian and NHS Highland put the plans into place.
Humza Yousaf has described the plans as a “solid platform” to strengthen maternity services at in the north.
While Douglas says this is a “a step in the right direction” following the concerns he raised with NHS Grampian last week at their board meeting over a lack of urgency, he says much more work needs to be done to give expectant Moray mums and campaigners confidence over the future of maternity services.
He says he will be continuing to hold Humza Yousaf and the SNP-Green government “fully to account” over these plans and says issues around recruiting enough staff to rural and remote locations in Moray and the Highlands remains a “serious issue”.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Confirmation of approval and funding for these plans to restore maternity services at Dr Gray’s is a step in the right direction but much more work needs to be done by Humza Yousaf and this SNP government.
“It is welcome that action has finally been taken by him after I raised my growing concerns only last week with NHS Grampian over the complete lack of urgency following the Health Secretary’s statement to Parliament before Christmas.
“Earmarking millions for this initial implementation is positive, but it is crucial that it is spent in the right areas. The devil will be in the detail of this announcement and the finer print must give expectant mothers in Moray and tireless campaigners confidence once and for all over the return of consultant-led services at Dr Gray’s.
“Many promises have been made before but have proven not to be worth the paper they are written on. The reality still remains that the so-called temporary downgrade of maternity services at Dr Gray’s will have lasted eight years for Moray mums if this plan is realised on time, even now that the misguided Model 4 plans have been scrapped.
“If this implementation is to be successful, then Humza Yousaf needs to recognise that serious issues around recruitment remain. That is exacerbated by the rural and remote geography of Moray and the Highlands and the solid platform he has described could fall apart without the required staff in place.
“The restoration of maternity services at Dr Gray’s in the quickest possible timeframe is an issue that is very personal to me. I will continue to hold Humza Yousaf and the SNP-Green government fully to account on behalf of Moray mums who are desperate for this to succeed.
“Plans must progress without any further delay and this announcement today must be backed up with robust delivery by Humza Yousaf and NHS Grampian.”
