New arrangements are now in place for Moray women to be taken to hospital in Inverness to give birth if they have complications during their pregnancy.
NHS Grampian announced an overhaul of services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin earlier this week to keep its maternity and paediatrics departments open over the coming months.
The move comes after it emerged that just two trainee doctors had signed up to work at the hospital from the next intake in August – six less than required to fully staff the unit.
The health board revealed that managers had been working to secure an agreement for women with risky pregnancies to be cared for during their baby’s birth at Raigmore Hospital instead.
And yesterday NHS Grampian confirmed that the proposed changes would now take place.
Last night Sue Swift, Divisional Manager for the Women and Children’s Service said: “We want to reassure women who choose to birth at Dr Gray’s that should any clinical indication present which may impact on her or her baby then they will be transferred to Raigmore where consultant care is available.
Pregnant women could be forced to travel from Elgin to Aberdeen to have their babies
“Both NHS Grampian and NHS Highland firmly believe that patient safety must always come before health board boundaries.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from our successful public drop in sessions that people would prefer to have the option of giving birth in Inverness rather than Aberdeen.
“Today’s announcement is very much a first step: our positive and constructive discussions with NHS Highland continue in an effort to develop robust choices for women as workforce safely allows.”
Midwives are now discussing options with women due to give birth in the next six weeks.
NHS Grampian has said “hundreds” of mums will still be able to have their babies at Dr Gray’s each year once the changes come into force on July 18.
Ms Swift added: “We would again offer our categorical assurance that these measures are temporary and that maternity and paediatric services are to be retained.”
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: “The news that the maternity service at Dr Gray’s is to be temporarily downgraded has caused a lot of concern and anxiety for many pregnant women, particularly those in the west of Moray who faced the prospect of a 160 mile round trip to Aberdeen to deliver their baby.
“Since I was informed of the changes I’ve been pushing for an agreement with Raigmore to be put in place to prevent that from happening, so this announcement is welcome.
“However the fact remains that the consultant-led service at Dr Gray’s needs to be restored as soon as possible.”
