Yousaf can’t give date for return of Moray maternity services
Consultant-led maternity services will return to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Moray, the Health Secretary said, but it is not yet clear when.
The Elgin hospital was forced to switch to a midwifeled service in 2018, meaning women in need of more complex care would have to go to either Aberdeen Royal Infirmary or Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Humza Yousaf said yesterday that, following a review published in December, the Scottish Government was committed to returning to a consultant-led model.
In the interim period, a community maternity model – which would be mainly linked to Raigmore – would be put in place.
The review, undertaken by NHS Borders chief executive Ralph Roberts, laid out six possible options – with the community model designated model four, and consultantled services model six.
“I have concluded that we will progress with model six – a full consultant-led maternity unit at Dr Gray’s, with model four as part of the development towards that final destination,” he said.
“I hope this will see 80-90 per cent of Moray births taking place at Dr Gray’s on the realisation of a consultant-led model, similar to the numbers that were taking place prior to the changes made in 2018.”
He added: “The priority for thewomenofmorayisthatthey have access as soon as possible tothewidestrangeofmaternity servicesthatcansafelyandrealistically be delivered as close to home as possible.
“Let me be clear – I expect work on model six to begin immediately. The first step in that journey is working through the detailed timeline of what is required by when.”
The Scottish Government will invest an initial £5 million, with a further £5m to upgrade facilities at Raigmore Hospital.
The Health Secretary said more funding may be forthcoming in the future if necessary.
On the timescale for the services to be returned, Mr Yousaf said: “It’s imperative that we develop deliverable timescales. I understand the importance of making changes in a phased manner to ensure safety for the women of Moray and for the women of the Highlands.”