Children's services plans go to public
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PEOPLE throughout Moray are being urged to give their views on proposed changes to paediatric services at Dr Gray’s Hospital.
NHS Grampian executive lead Pam Gowans launched a three-month consultation on the future paediatric model on Friday.
Staffing problems have led to reduced operating hours for the children’s ward, which is open between 8am and 10pm at the moment. Any children who require overnight care are transferred to Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
Since February hospital staff and public representatives, including the Keep MUM campaign, have been in discussions over the long-term future of the service.
Ms Gowans said: "The model they have developed would see 24/7 opening return on the children’s ward – which we are keen to see. It would also significantly reduce the number of children transferred to Aberdeen by around 110 a year when compared with the temporary model we have in place at the moment.
"We need to be clear though – the most unwell children in Moray have always had to be treated in specialist units elsewhere and that would still be the case."
Under the proposed model most routine conditions and minor injuries will be treated at Dr Gray’s Hospital. Children can stay on the ward for up to 24 hours, including overnight stays. Day case surgery, such as dental treatment or ear, nose and throat procedures, will still be carried out in Elgin.
Ms Gowans said recruiting the extra staff needed to run the future children’s service would be a priority.
She added: "The proposed model will be backed up by a multi-disciplinary workforce that is less reliant on one profession in order to help prevent the type of staffing issues we’ve seen over the last two years.
"That team will include some of our new advanced nurse practitioners who are due to complete their training in November, as well as our redeveloped hospital at night team and the four extra paediatric consultants we are actively recruiting at the moment."
The full plans have now been made public and the consultation will run until September 27. Plans can be viewed at http://bit.ly/DGH-PCSMConsultation or email nhsg.involve@nhs.net. Public events will be held over the next three months.
Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said he hoped to bring NHS Grampian chief executive Amanda Croft and Highlands and Islands Enterprise new talent attraction manager, Rona Campbell, together for "essential" discussions on what can be done to attract vital health service staff.
He said: "I welcome the plan to restore women and children’s services at Dr Gray’s and look forward to having a full service back up and running in Moray.
"However, it remains a concern of mine that we may not be able to recruit the necessary staff to allow the plan to be implemented and, as such, I’ve asked NHS Grampian to provide me with an update on what positive steps are being taken to recruit staff and how they can promote the hospital and Moray as a good place to work and live."
