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Moray MP Douglas asks for Dr Gray's update from Humza Yousaf


By Alistair Whitfield

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Moray's MP is calling for a ministerial update on the maternity situation at Dr Gray's Hospital before the Scottish Parliament breaks for its summer recess.

Douglas Ross says he has written to Humza Yousaf, the Health Secretary, to ask that parliamentary time is set aside for an update before June 30.

Moray MP Douglas Ross.
Moray MP Douglas Ross.

Back in March, Mr Yousaf instructed NHS Grampian to produce a timeline by the end of June, outlining the steps required for the restoration of a consultant-led maternity service at the Elgin Hospital.

Mr Ross said: "The fate and progress of fully restoring maternity services at Dr Gray’s cannot be left in limbo over the summer recess while the Scottish Parliament doesn’t sit for more than two months.

"MSPs and the public must know the Scottish Government’s response and be able to scrutinise and challenge the Health Secretary on the plans.

"They should not have to wait over two months without any sort of update being provided to them."
Mr Ross states that if an update is not given before June 30, then the next available date would not be until September 6."

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.

Due to a shortage of consultants the maternity service at Dr Gray's was downgraded in 2018.

Originally the downgrade was to be temporary and last a year, however the situation still continues.

As a result, about 80% of mums faced giving birth at other hospitals outwith Moray last year.

In March, Mr Yousaf announced his ambition to eventually restore a full maternity service and pledged £5million of investment.

During the following month senior leadership at NHS Grampian suggested the process could take between seven and ten years.


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