Humza Yousaf’s long-awaited plans to restore consultant-led maternity services in Moray “simply do not go far enough”, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who is also a Highlands and Islands MSP, challenged the SNP Health Secretary in Parliament over his proposals.
He criticised the failure to commit to a timescale to fully restore maternity services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, despite Humza Yousaf insisting that he was committed to achieving this.
In the interim, many expectant mothers will still have to endure a journey to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness despite the concerns of clinicians based there.
Douglas Ross also criticised the failure to recognise that consultant-led maternity services have not been available in Moray for four years.
He spoke movingly about the health issues suffered by his newborn son James last year, and queried whether this was due to the fact that he had to bring him back along the A96 after his birth in Aberdeen when he was just hours old.
Douglas Ross added that he will continue to fight with local campaigners such as Keep MUM and Moray and Banff Maternity Voices Partnership to ensure Humza Yousaf is upfront about when full-scale maternity services will once again be available in Elgin.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “Expectant mothers were told that the downgrading of maternity services in Moray would only be temporary, yet they still haven’t been restored four years on.
“Despite the tireless efforts of local campaigners, today’s proposals from Humza Yousaf simply do not go far enough. He failed to provide any details as to when consultant-led services will be restored at Dr Gray’s.
“He failed to recognise how long this situation has been going on for and he failed to recognise that his aim of having 90 per cent of Moray babies born locally, simply might not happen during this Parliament.
“Continuing to have pregnant women make the journey to Raigmore or Aberdeen simply isn’t safe. I know from my own experience that travelling along the A96 to the hospital in Aberdeen was horrendous and something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“I often wonder if my son’s breathing difficulties shortly after being born were as a result of making that extremely difficult journey back to Moray when he was so young.
“It still feels like we are some way off Moray mothers having the guarantee of giving birth in their own community, which is hugely disappointing.
“I will continue to hold Humza Yousaf and the SNP Government to their promise of ensuring the Moray community is kept updated every step of the way. The lack of timescales and milestones raises serious concerns and we need to know why NHS Grampian has neglected Dr Gray’s and Moray for so long.”
