NHS Grampian to look into new Elgin hospital to replace Dr Gray's
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A NEW hospital could be built in Elgin to replace Dr Gray's.
A report released by NHS Grampian has showed that local groups, staff and the public want a new hospital in Elgin.
Sent out in advance of Thursday, December 1's NHS Grampian board meeting, the report said the health board has received "considerable feedback" arguing that Dr Gray's is inadequate.
In their feedback, people surveyed wanted a whole new building to take the Victorian hospital's place.
However NHS Grampian has not committed to a new hospital, saying it "may or may not" be the best thing to do and that financial obstacles could cause problems.
The health board plans to start a "staged piece of work" to figure out the best option going forward.
The report said: "Whilst this solution may or may not be the most appropriate outcome there is clearly a staged piece of work to determine the service provision that is required against this new strategy, an objective (facilities expert driven) assessment of current facilities and then the development of options and a plan.
"The tension in this area relates to the likely levels of capital funding that will be available to NHS Grampian over the next decade.
"The requirements for Dr Gray’s Hospital will need to be considered alongside all demands for the finite resource available.
"NHS Grampian has agreed with Scottish Government colleagues (at officer level) to develop a comprehensive prioritised capital plan during the 2023 year.
"The needs of Dr Gray’s Hospital will be included in this planning work."
At the meeting tomorrow, the board is expected to agree to start work on a Dr Gray's strategy, to be released in February 2023, which will set an end goal.
After this strategy, a "delivery plan" will set out specifics of how to meet the goal by April 2023.
The board visited Dr Gray’s in November to gather information about the hospital.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said plans for a new hospital were a good thing, but should not stop essential improvements at Dr Gray's taking place.
He said: “While it’s positive that the NHS board are at least considering a new hospital for Elgin, this confirms what many in Moray have felt for a long time.
“A new hospital is all well and good but patients will be questioning what would be the point if the resources are not there to deliver the highest quality of care for them.
“Patients across Moray have been neglected for too long and services are now routinely not available on their own doorstep."
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said he had met NHS Grampian ahead of the report's release.
He argued that the region needs "an acute hospital with expanded and resourced services in Moray", regardless of whether the building is replaced.
He said: “I met with NHS Grampian recently to discuss their strategic review for the future of Dr Gray’s and made clear my strong view that the community needs an acute hospital with expanded and resourced services in Moray.
“It’s important that the vase for a new hospital is examined as Moray deserves state of the art facilities that meet the needs of the local population.
"One way or another, significant investment by NHS Grampian in our much loved local hospital to ensure it is fit for the future.”
