Ross seeks answers from Health Secretary after draft plan submitted
MORAY MP Douglas Ross is seeking an update from SNP Health Minister Jeane Freeman after the deadline passed for a detailed plan to be submitted by NHS Grampian following the downgrading of the maternity unit at Dr Gray’s.
Douglas made the call in the wake of a public consultation event that he attended in Elgin on Thursday night where NHS Grampian officials told attendees they were unable to share the plan they had drafted for the Minister and suggested the timeframes set by the Scottish Government may not be met.
Douglas’ calls for an update directly from the Health Secretary today have so far gone unanswered.
Commenting Douglas said: “This morning I put in a request to the Scottish Health Secretary’s office to have a telephone conversation with her. I was extremely concerned after Thursdays meeting when worried members of the public expected to see what the NHS board were submitting, only to be told that information could not be shared with them. If the Scottish Government want the support of local people to resolve this critical issue, both they and NHS Grampian need to involve the local community.
“While there was a further meeting with KeepMUM on Friday I know there are still considerable concerns about what has been submitted to the Health Secretary and I want to know, on behalf of local people, what her response is to the plan submitted and when we can expected a more detailed report.
“It seems there is still more information and clarification required and the public meeting this week showed that once again pregnant women and their families have many real fears and concerns.”
When an issue was raised at Thursday’s meeting about induction procedures at Aberdeen, a member of staff from Dr Grays told the audience “I’m washing my hands of the induction process, that’s Aberdeen!”
Douglas added: “That is hardly the reassurance that people in Moray needed to hear. We are supposed to be one health board, but yet again people in Moray are suffering and not getting the answers to very real concerns.
“The Scottish Health Secretary asked for this report and set the timescale for its submission. If that full report has not been completed, and more work is required she needs to come back to Moray to explain what the Scottish Government is doing to resolve this crisis. More meetings and discussions don’t stop pregnant mums and their families worrying about the implications of travelling to Aberdeen to give birth. We also need to know why suggestions from KeepMUM and others seem to have been kept out of this report.
“Time is not on our side. Every day that passes more mums are forced to travel away from Moray to give birth, we need immediate solutions to this crisis. That is what many people expected when the Health Secretary asked for this report, but they have been let down.”