Sturgeon pressed on plan to restore Dr Gray's maternity unit
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THE First Minister gave no timing assurances yesterday when pressed on maternity services at Dr Gray's Hospital – a situation campaigners describe as "unsafe".
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston challenged Nicola Sturgeon over the ongoing crisis at Dr Gray’s as expectant mothers in Moray face another winter of travelling to Aberdeen to give birth – saying that a plan to restore services by spring next year looks unlikely to be met.
Ms Sturgeon said patient safety considerations should be the "guiding principle".
At First Minister's Questions, Mr Halcro Johnston said: "In August 2018, the maternity services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin were downgraded. In November of that year, the chief medical officer’s advisory group reported that NHS Grampian must produce a comprehensive plan and a 'clear timetable' for restoration of these services.
"A year later, many expectant mothers are still having to travel long distances to Aberdeen or sometimes Inverness to give birth.
"It is now certain this will not be resolved, as was pledged, by the end of this year, meaning another winter of patients and families travelling across the north of Scotland for vital care.
"Now local campaigners are concerned that the revised timetable, to restore services by spring 2020, shows little sign of being met. So can the First Minister tell us, why are these 'clear timetables' being missed and what is she going to do about it?"
Ms Sturgeon replied: "We want mothers to deliver their babies as close to home as is safely possible.
"The issues around maternity services at Dr Gray’s are issues of patient safety. Patient safety has guided decisions up until now and patient safety will guide decisions from here on.
"The health secretary remains in close contact with the health board about the issues around the restoration of those services, but patient safety will continue to be the guiding principle. I think that everybody would understand and expect that to be the case."
Mr Halcro Johnston said afterwards: "Enough is enough.
"Local mums-to-be are still facing the daunting prospect of travelling all the way to Aberdeen – potentially in extreme weather – for care which should be available here in Elgin.
"And we are still without assurances that the maternity and paediatric services are going to be restored any time soon."
Keep MUM campaigners said: "Absolutely everyone needs to be clear that the current situation is unsafe and the community of Moray need to be told what exactly is going on.
"The focus of our campaign is the restoration of our consultant maternity unit. That will continue to be our focus."
