Health in Moray: NHS Grampian appoints new Clinical Director for Dr Gray's Hospital
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NHS Grampian has appointed a new Clinical Director to Dr Gray's Hospital.
Professor Duff Bruce has led the surgery and theatres unit at Dr Gray’s for a number of years and will now work in his new role to support clinical teams in the hospital as well as helping his colleagues to interact with community services and specialisms across NHS Grampian.
Duff, who is originally from Aberdeen, has said the leadership role brings with it a personal aim for him to achieve something meaningful for his local community in Moray.
He said: “Working at Dr Gray’s feels more like you’re part of a family than an organisation. Delivering health and care in a largely rural area is not without its challenges but I’ve lived in Moray for a long time and I’m looking forward to developing our workforce and building on the strong relationships we have.
“We already have strong links with health and social care partnerships and universities and this role will build on that as well as helping teams within the hospital to focus on the health journey our patients go through, from home to home, and how they can help better that journey.”
Duff originally trained at the University of Aberdeen and spent time working in Australia before returning to Scotland to complete his surgical training as a registrar in Inverness.
He specialises in surgery of the stomach and oesophagus and has an interest in treating reflux and swallowing problems. He also trained in weight loss surgery in Los Angeles and helped weight loss surgery pioneer Jack Miller from Dr Gray’s Hospital set up the Bariatric Surgery Service at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The surgeon is also passionate about modernisation and played a key part in the successful bid for the development of MRI services at Dr Gray’s.
He will also continue in his role as NHS Grampian’s clinical lead for the development of a National Treatment Centre in the area.
Duff sees the opportunity to build ‘networked’ health teams between Inverness, Elgin and Aberdeen as a model that has huge potential.
He said: “We have a geographical opportunity to deliver something innovative. The teams are close anyway, we have lots of university and training crossover and many of the team members already have experience of working in the different locations. There are benefits for all of us if we can work more closely together; we have different strengths so we can all support each other and I’m really hoping new areas of joint working will develop.”
The experienced surgeon also places a great deal of value in prioritising training for those just starting out in their careers.
He said: “Dr Gray’s Hospital has a strong heritage for training and I’m keen to prioritise that. We have relatively short careers and it’s essential we keep training the next generation of health professionals.
He added: “It’s so revitalising to work with trainees – they keep you on your toes with questions and I really enjoy it. In Elgin we not only have strong links with the University of Aberdeen, RGU and Nescol but the University of the Highlands and Islands and Moray College. This presents a great opportunity for us to do more to develop the multi- professional workforce across the North of Scotland and support research focused on enhancing remote and rural health.”
Simon Bokor-Ingram, Chief officer for Moray Health and Social Care Partnership and the Moray portfolio lead said: “We are really pleased to be retaining Duff’s experience, enthusiasm and skillset in Moray through this important role. We’ve had some really good feedback on what the local community would like to see as part of the strategic plan for Dr Gray’s Hospital and we are listening.
“Duff’s role will help to build really critical links, raise the profile of potential training opportunities in Elgin and to deliver on ambitious aspirations for remote and rural healthcare as part of a wider, evolving health and care system.”
