At the tender age of seven, her campaigning career is starting early.
But little Lucy Stewart has made an impassioned appeal to get doctors to come to work in Moray.
Lucy, who has suffered breathing problems from birth, has been a regular visitor to Dr Gray’s Hospital since moving to Elgin four years ago.
The hospital has suffered serious staffing problems in recent times – and during a recent trip to accident and emergency Lucy was devastated to learn doctors did not want to come and work with her favourite staff.
She was told that the grown ups at NHS Grampian had tried to entice applicants in many ways – but the Bishopmill Primary School pupil immediately began drawing up her reasons why doctors should want to work in Moray.
On Lucy’s employee benefits list is the promise of access to a “special play room”, the chance to meet “amazing” children and the opportunity to work with other “brilliant” staff.
There is even the offer of exclusive dance lessons with the youngster herself.
The musical Elgin campaigner has also started penning a song inspired by her favourite YouTube star, The Singing Dentist, to promote Moray’s attributes over the rest of the country.
Lucy said: “I want to help get the doctors back to the ward so the children don’t have to go to Aberdeen – it’s really far away.
“I do ballroom and latin dance lessons in Inverness so I can give the doctors and nurses lessons.”
When not campaigning for extra medical staff in Moray, Lucy prepares sparkly parcels of sweets to be sold at fairs – raising £3,000 for children’s charities in the process.
NHS Grampian has had to temporarily withdraw inpatient paediatric care at Dr Gray’s due to a staff shortage.
Patients needing treatment are currently being transferred to Aberdeen or Inverness.
New arrangements are being drawn up but the process is expected to take “several months”.
Last night, Lucy’s mother Claire explained her daughter was determined to make a difference.
She said: “When she was told about the ward closing she said ‘What am I going to do?
“We told her it’s because doctors don’t want to travel far to work.
“She just wasn’t having it and said ‘Well, I’m going to go get them. I’m going to write them a list.’”
Lucy’s Eight Reasons
1) To look after the poorly children.
2) To meet some amazing children, like me.
3) You have a special play room.
4) You will work with brilliant nurses and doctors.
5) You will get to play with Sandra the play worker.
6) You could save children’s lives.
7) You would make children and their family happy because they could sleep over in ward two and not go to Aberdeen.
8) I can teach you to dance.
