MSP comments on Health Secretary’s visit to Moray
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has called for Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to confirm that no further services will be closed or downgraded in Moray ahead of her visit to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin this week.
The Conservative MSP’s call comes after he received assurances from Professor Amanda Croft, interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian that a range of existing services were not at risk and the health board was responding to any pressures on the services.
The Health Secretary will visit Moray following her statement that a plan will be put in place to restore full maternity services at Dr Gray’s. In recent months, several pregnant women from Moray have been forced to travel to Aberdeen to deliver their children.
Commenting ahead of the visit, Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“With the Health Secretary coming to Moray, there are some key questions she needs to answer.
“Staff shortages were blamed for the initial downgrading of maternity services at Dr Gray’s, but many of the problems are longstanding and will require national action from the Scottish Government to resolve fully.
“I am pleased that NHS Grampian have stated to me that a number of further services are not ‘at risk’ and I would hope that the Health Secretary is able to confirm that as she visits Moray.
“People in Moray have been rightly angry at the downgrading of maternity services at Dr Gray’s. Ms Freeman must make clear that this will not happen again and provide assurances that other services are safe too.”