Moray MP welcomes update meeting on maternity and paediatric services
Moray MP Douglas Ross, has welcomed a progress report given by NHS Grampian to local campaigners and families on Monday night about ongoing efforts to restore full maternity provision and paediatric care to Dr Gray’s in Elgin.
Commenting after attending the meeting in St Giles Church on Monday evening, Douglas said: “It was helpful to get an update from senior managers on what has been done so far and their plans going forward to help restore a full service. Clearly progress has been made, but from the questions during the evening, more still has to be done and that was acknowledged by all present.
“I was pleased at the willingness of the NHS Grampian representatives to answer questions and acknowledge the fears that patients and staff still have. There are still serious concerns about women and families having to travel through to Aberdeen to give birth and as we enter another cold snap, these fears increase.
“There was also an agreement to improve communications and importantly provide more opportunities for feedback about paediatric care and services in Moray which have not been as good as they should have been. The staff at Dr Gray’s do an outstanding job under very trying conditions and the support for their efforts at the meeting was clear, I echo that wholeheartedly, but we need to have a service that delivers for local patients which will in turn prove positive for the staff as well.”
Pam Gowans, chair of the Moray Integrated Joint Board summed up at the end of last night’s meeting by saying “There is still a long way to go” commenting on this statement Douglas added “I agree with that sentiment. There are still a lot of concerns which need to be addressed and a long way to go before we have a consultant-led service back at Dr Gray’s but I welcome the willingness to make that happen.”
