Moray MP Douglas Ross has expressed his deep concerns after receiving a briefing from senior managers at NHS Grampian today where he was informed that from the start of August maternity services will be downgraded in Moray for between 12-18 months due to a shortage of junior doctors at Dr Gray’s in Elgin.
Commenting after the briefing Douglas said: “I am extremely worried by this, and have written to the new Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeane Freeman to seek an urgent meeting with her here in Moray. I will also be meeting with MUM campaigners to seek their reaction to this shock news.
He added: “This announcement from NHS Grampian is totally unacceptable and it means that only non-complicated cases will be dealt with at Dr Gray’s in Elgin from then. I am extremely concerned as I was told during my briefing when I pressed senior managers on this point, that when this was rolled out elsewhere 60% of women who were considered to be at high risk had to travel elsewhere to give birth.”
“In Moray we currently have an increased rate of patients considered to be at higher risk than other parts of Scotland which means that more than 60% of mums (approximately 45 women) will be forced out of area to have their babies.”
“What this means is that we will potentially face two winters with women having to travel to Aberdeen in bad weather, or possibly to Inverness. I want to highlight how dangerous this can be, given the sort of winters we have experienced recently and the potential for accidents.”
“I am urging the Scottish Health Minister to meet with me in Moray to explain why this has happened and why NHS Grampian is one of the poorest funded health boards in Scotland. Simply put, this is not acceptable and is putting patient lives at risk, while endangering women at their most vulnerable, not to mention the lives of their unborn babies. We already have a downgraded children’s ward and now this. What next?
“I genuinely want to work with anyone and everyone to resolve this issue, but for too long it seems Moray’s needs have been an afterthought for the NHS and that needs to change.”