Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the decision by NHS Grampian to extend the opening hours of the children’s ward at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
Douglas said: “It is good news that parents in Moray can now take sick children to Dr Gray’s seven days a week. It was a bitter blow earlier this year when the hospital not only closed the children’s ward to admissions at night, but then the service was cut further so that the children’s ward was open only from Monday to Friday.
“It seems that a combination of permanent paediatric staff and locums are now in place at Dr Gray’s to cover a rota that will allow the children’s ward to be open every day from 8am to 10pm, which is a welcome move.
“Unfortunately, there are still not enough staff to be able to return to a 24-hour service for sick children in Moray. That seems to be as far away as ever, unfortunately, because the next intake of junior doctors takes place in February and I am told by NHS Grampian that the recruitment position here is bleak.
“The rota involving the additional paediatric staff does, however, mean that the Special Care Baby Unit at Dr Gray’s has re-opened. So, we are moving in the right direction, albeit slowly, and I hope that work will continue to restore full services in the children’s ward and maternity unit, which is what the people in Moray have every right to expect.”