A young campaigner has penned an energetic song as part of an impassioned plea to encourage doctors to move to Moray.
Lucy Stewart has been a regular visitor to Dr Gray’s Hospital with breathing difficulties since moving to Elgin four years ago.
And when NHS Grampian announced a serious staffing problem was due to doctors not wanting to work on ward two with her favourite staff the seven-year-old was determined to do something about it.
Now the Bishopmill Primary School pupil has written her first song and music video – entitled “Doctors we need you” – to help the cause.
Set to the tune of the Pharrell Williams hit “Happy” the musical youngster dances and pirouettes in the ward’s play room during the video while wearing a bright pink sparkly dress.
Last night, the video had been viewed more than 14,000 less than a day after being uploaded.
The catchy chorus encourages staff to move to the Elgin hospital if they “feel like they could save the day” and if “you feel like our happiness is your dream”.
She sings: “Because we need you, come along and meet us all and you will want to stay.”
Young patients needing inpatient paediatric care at Dr Gray’s are currently being treated in Inverness or Aberdeen due to the staff shortage.
NHS Grampian has repeatedly insisted the move is temporary while new staffing arrangements are drawn up but have admitted the process is expected to take “several months”.
The song is Lucy’s latest attempt to woo health staff to Moray. Last month she listed eight reasons why Elgin was the best place to work for applicants – including saving lives, access to the special play room and the promise of dance lessons from Lucy herself.
Her mother, Claire, said: “The response has just been amazing. One person has asked her to do one to attract teachers too, but I think we’ll just stick with doctors for now.
“She had her list of reasons and really wanted to be like the Singing Dentist on Youtube. We had a big mound of paper as she worked out all the lyrics with her big sister.”
NHS Grampian has shared the video online to boost the reach of the song. Visitors to the page have encouraged the young campaigner to film another song to attract nurses for the whole region.
