Calls for a new hospital in Elgin should not delay plans to reinstate a full consultant-led maternity unit in Moray, say campaigners.
NHS Grampian board papers – released this week – said there is “clearly work” needed to explore the possibility of opening a new hospital in the town.
The health board has received “considerable feedback” suggesting Dr Gray’s Hospital is not fit for purpose.
But campaign group Keep Mum say any proposals being considered should not hamper plans to reinstate a consultant-led unit at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
It was a staffing crisis in summer 2018 that led the hospital’s maternity unit to be “temporarily” downgraded from consultant-led to midwife-led.
The move left most mums facing either a 90-minute trip to Aberdeen or a 60-minute trip to Inverness, depending on conditions.
Kirsty Watson, Keep Mum spokesperson, said: “We are not in a position to say whether a new hospital building is required for future general services at Dr Gray’s Hospital but we do know that Moray needs a specialist maternity service as soon as possible.
“That does not need to wait for a new hospital – the current maternity ward is an excellent facility.”
NHS Grampian surveyed hundreds of staff and patients as part of efforts to develop a future strategy for the hospital.
An update to members of the health board – who met on Wednesday – said feedback suggested a “new hospital” to be built and developed on a new site in Elgin.
Women waiting in limbo
Campaigners say they have been left “in limbo” over the timeline for the return of the specialist maternity unit at Dr Gray’s.
NHS Grampian chiefs will submit a plan to the Scottish Government in December giving an indication of the “milestones and timescales involved”.
It will also set out the additional workforce and resource required to deliver these services at Dr Gray’s.
There are understood to be concerns reinstating a full consultant-led maternity unit in Elgin could lead to staffing pressures in Aberdeen and Inverness.
Ms Watson said: “Our immediate concern is that there is no timeline for the return of the specialist maternity unit.
“NHS Grampian has never produced a proper plan for the return of the consultant-led obstetric service.
“We are now into the 5th year of the downgrade and there is little sign of proactive and creative thinking on how to return the service.”
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: “NHS Grampian is committed to and focused on the establishment of full obstetric-led services at Dr Gray’s Hospital, and we continue to work and plan in collaboration with colleagues from NHS Highland on the development of a sustainable, networked model for the north.”
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