Moray MP Douglas Ross has expressed his frustration that the report into maternity services in Moray has been delayed until November. An independent review group heard evidence in July and the report had been expected by now but after raising the issue again in the Scottish Parliament last week, Douglas was informed that the report’s publication has been delayed.
Commenting, Douglas said: “I have previously asked the Scottish health minister that this report be presented as soon as possible to the Scottish Parliament for scrutiny, and it’s really frustrating that it has been delayed due to current pressures in the NHS. While everyone accepts the pressures within the NHS, this review was set-up during the pandemic so Covid has featured throughout the time the programme team has been looking at it.
“I hope the review team can deliver the report as soon as possible so the findings can be acted upon urgently. If it now won’t even go to Ministers until November it seems that Moray families face another winter of having to travel to Aberdeen rather than having a local service.
“I’m also concerned about capacity issues in Aberdeen as I’ve been contacted by a family who were sent even further afield to give birth which is extremely worrying.
“When I raised this issue again in the Scottish Parliament last week, Ministers promised that the report will be discussed with local representatives and KeepMum when it is received, but this delay moves everything back by a further two months at least.
“We need to hear that a full consultant-led maternity service is being restored to Moray sooner rather than later and we need this report to be published as a starting point.”
