Minister for Public and Women's Health visits Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin as Maternity Services Charter is launched
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A NEW charter that explains what families should expect from NHS Grampian's maternity services as well as their rights was launched at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin yesterday.
Jenni Minto, Minister for Public and Women's Health, launched the Maternity Services Charter after touring the hospital in the afternoon.
It includes seven points which outline the rights of service users and the responsibilities of staff.
That includes, respect, consent, communication, fairness, care, honesty and feedback.
It will be available to view online and in maternity wards.
Ms Minto, who was born at Dr Gray's, says she is proud that the charter was launched at the hospital.
She said: "I'm really proud, given that I was born here, that this hospital is taking the lead on this.
"I think that whatever hospital that women are coming to, they need to have this patient charter.
"I think what's so important here is that it has been a true collaboration and that's the way you make things better by making sure that mums and families are heard and that change can be made in conjunction with those that are providing the care."
The charter was developed by NHS Grampian in collaboration with members of the Grampian Voices Partnership and Let's All Talk North East Mums (LATNEM).
The idea has been 10 years in the making for Gill Skene who nearly died in childbirth at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital in 2012.
Ms Skene said: "I developed severe PTSD and coming out of it and feeling better I started to volunteer with the maternity voices and tried to really give feedback on the experiences.
"It became clear to me that I wasn't the only one that had felt disempowered or scared to speak up or ask for myself and so I wanted a charter.
"It's to give people the power within themselves to say hang on, things aren't going the way I want them to, I need to communicate with staff, they have agreed to these rights and responsibilities so I can use this language, I can point to this, I can ask for what I need because the charter says.
"I think that's brilliant and I'm delighted that it has been launched."
Moray MP Douglas Ross has "cautiously" welcomed the new charter but added that the priority should be the full restoration of maternity services in Moray.
Mr Ross said: "While this new charter sets out what a maternity service should deliver and what patients should expect, sadly that is still not what Moray mums and families can expect.
"Although the Scottish Government has promised funding to restore services this won’t happen before 2026 in Moray at the earliest, which just isn’t soon enough.
"What we need is a full return of consultant-led maternity services as soon as possible, and to guarantee a safe service for mums-to-be in Moray who still face at least another three years of having to go to Aberdeen or Inverness to give birth."
