Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon (Thursday) Moray MP and Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross challenged Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf over the timeline to reintroduce maternity services in Moray.
Dr Gray’s consultant-led unit was temporarily downgraded for 12 months four years ago in 2018. Now NHS Grampian’s Chief Executive has said it could be up to a decade before the consultant-led unit is re-opened in Elgin.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf refused to deny the wait could be this long or acknowledge that a wait of this length would be completely unacceptable for Moray mums and families.
Commenting, Douglas Ross said: “I was appalled when the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian made the public comment that we could be waiting for a decade for Moray’s maternity services to be re-instated and I’m so angry and disappointed that the SNP Health Secretary seems to be going along with this.
“I gave Humza Yousaf the opportunity to state that a 10-year wait was unacceptable, and he refused to do so. Local campaigners have been working non-stop to get this vital service back in Moray, but it seems for NHS Grampian and the Scottish Government that this could be a very long way off.
“There are far too many examples of mums-to-be and families being put in dangerous situations because of the downgrade to the maternity services in Moray, therefore it must be a priority for government and NHS Grampian to get things back up and running as quickly as possible.
“Just one day more waiting for a return to consultant-led maternity services in Moray puts lives at risk. I hate to think what could happen if we are expected to wait another ten years for the level of service that is so clearly required here in Moray.
“I will continue to press both the government and the health board to accelerate plans to reintroduce suitable maternity services in Moray because it’s clear to everyone what is needed and that it’s needed right now.”
