MSP Richard Lochhead presses case for return to full-strength Moray maternity services with Independent Review group

MORAY'S MSP highlighted community concerns over the lack of consultant-led maternity services in the region during a meeting with the Scottish Government appointed Independent Review group in Elgin today.

Richard Lochhead met the Independent Review group to hear about its work and to discuss the impact of the reduction in services at Dr Gray’s Hospital on families.

For three years now mums-to-be have faced round trips of more than 100 miles to give birth in Aberdeen or Inverness since the downgrading at Dr Gray’s in July 2018 due to staff shortages.

Mr Lochhead shared his own concerns about the changes to maternity services at Dr Gray’s, as well as highlighting the strong feeling in the community over the time taken to restore a consultant-led service.

He urged the review group to consider recommending independent oversight of the work to reinstate services in Elgin in order to give the public confidence that progress will be made.

He said: "Having made the case on behalf of local campaigners for the establishment of an independent review into maternity services at Dr Gray’s, I was really pleased to welcome the group to Moray and to hear about the work they’ve undertaken so far.

"I gave evidence for over an hour, sharing my own concerns about the reduction in maternity services in Elgin and the impact the changes have had on local families, staff and the wider community, and I was delighted with the deep level of engagement from a very impressive group.

"There’s undoubtedly huge frustration in the local community over the handling of this issue by NHS Grampian and the fact that the situation continues to drag on with little sign of progress or resolution.

"It would be fair to say that many campaigners and families in Moray have lost faith in NHS Grampian’s commitment to restoring a consultant-led service at Dr Gray’s and I’ve urged the review group to consider recommending independent oversight of the work to reinstate services in Elgin, to give the public confidence that progress will be made.

"We desperately need to get back to a position where the majority of women in Moray are able to give birth locally. It’s essential for local families, for our economy, and for the future of Moray. I very much hope that the review group’s report, due later this summer, will help move us towards that."

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