Moray MP Douglas Ross says SNP health minister Jenni Minto’s visit to Dr Gray’s next week must deliver “real action” for long-suffering maternity services campaigners.
Douglas – who had requested the minister to meet with KeepMUM campaigners in Moray after she was appointed in March – says he welcomes the minister’s decision to meet with the campaigners.
The Moray MP – who has repeatedly challenged successive SNP ministers to fully restore consultant-led maternity services at Dr Gray’s – says that we must hear “concrete and detailed plans” for the restoration of services, having heard “warm words” for far too long.
Douglas – who suffered first-hand experience of the lack of consultant-led services at Dr Gray’s – when his second son James had to be born at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 2021, says the issue must be a top priority for the SNP’s health ministerial team.
He hopes that the meeting with Jenni Minto – who was born in Moray – will deliver “real results” for campaigners in Moray, who he added have been neglected all too often by the SNP Government.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I am pleased that Jenni Minto – as part of the SNP’s ministerial health team – has agreed to my request to come to Dr Gray’s and meet with local campaigners fighting tirelessly for the restoration of consultant-led maternity services in Moray.
“I know the minister will be left in no doubt by expectant Moray mums and local campaigners about the anger and frustration they continue to feel more than five years on from a so-called temporary downgrade of services.
“Those campaigners and people across Moray must hear concrete and detailed plans for restoring consultant-led services at Dr Gray’s emerge from Jenni Minto at this meeting. They have heard warm words for too long.
“I know myself about the dangers and deeply upsetting experiences that can happen as a result of not being able to access maternity services on your doorstep.
"We also heard a recent shocking birthing story where a Moray mum went into labour in the car park after having to travel to Aberdeen to give birth.
“This situation is completely unacceptable and we must see consultant-led services return as a matter of urgency at Dr Gray’s. I hope that this meeting with the SNP minister will deliver real results, as successive health ministers have neglected the needs of pregnant women and families in Moray for far too long.”
