Humza Yousaf gives 'absolute commitment' to restoration of consultant led maternity services in Moray
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HEALTH Secretary Humza Yousaf said that the Scottish Government "will not waste any time" in working to restore a consultant led maternity unit at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin.
Mr Yousaf, speaking at Scottish Parliament yesterday, said that the Scottish Government are still considering the 37 recommendations set out by the independent review which released on Friday, December 3.
He said: "It's important to say that the government hasn't ruled out any of the options. I have been committed to the re-instatement of a consultant led maternity unit at Dr Gray's but I would also say that this has to be done in a safe and sustainable way.
"We need the relevant infrastructure to support change before any kind of implementation."
One of the short term recommendations of the review is the restoration of elective C-sections at Dr Gray's Hospital. That could double the amount of women who can deliver at Dr Gray's to around 40 per cent or around 400 births per year.
Mr Yousaf said: "We are going to be working to see what is possible in the short term. That includes the rapid reintroduction of elective C-sections at Dr Gray's.
"Of course that still means that the majority of women will not be giving birth in Moray and therefore we need to look at the medium and long term options.
"That brings me to Model 5 which would allow up to 70 per cent of women to deliver their babies in Moray.
"We want to deliver on this commitment quickly, safely and sustainably and we fully expect that models 4 and 5 will allow us to return to a consultant led maternity service at Dr Gray's but we will have to do that with constant consultation."
The Health Secretary will meet with clinicians, elected representatives and NHS Grampian and NHS Highland when he visits Moray on December 20 to discuss the review's recommendations.
Mr Yousaf added: "The next stages now are to visit Moray, speak to the local community, clinicians, local representatives and then I would hope early in the new year we can come forward with further detail on the recommendations we are taking forward and an implementation plan to follow."
Local group Keep MUM, who have campaigned for the restoration of consultant led maternity services, will also meet the Health Secretary when he visits Moray later this month. The group welcomed Mr Yousaf's statement yesterday but reaffirmed their concerns over some of the review's recommendations.
Kirsty Watson, a spokesperson for Keep MUM, said: "As the situation has not changed now, and is unlikely to do so for some time, anxiety continues for Moray women and their families. There may be light at the end of the tunnel but this is some time away.
"If NHS Grampian had planned properly and committed to Dr Gray's, we feel this dangerous situation could have been avoided."
