It has been announced that upgrades are required at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness as part of plans for future maternity services in Moray.
Due to staff shortages in 2018, Dr Gray’s Elgin services were reduced. Most expectant mothers have to travel to Aberdeen.
It was announced in March that consultant-led maternity services would be returning.
New draft plans state that more Inverness specialists are also required.
NHS Grampian and NHS Highland have submitted the plan to the Scottish government.
The upgrades will be completed by the health boards and new staff, including consultants, midwives and nurses, in December 2023.
They warn that changes could be delayed but add that they are taking steps to prevent that.
The old pledge to provide caesarean sections at Dr Gray’s by next year has been canceled.
Although the NHS Grampian clinical teams would love to be able offer this service, it was denied by the health board.
NHS Grampian and NHS Highland stated that they are working together to ensure women from Moray have access to high-quality, safe and fully supported maternity care.
Humza Yousaf, Health Secretary, said that the plan would be reviewed in the coming weeks.
The government has asked Prof Linda De Caestecker to give additional advice and input. She recently retired from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as director of public Health.
Mr Yousaf stated: “I commend both board for the ambitious timescales they have set to achieve the Moray networked design by the end 2023.
“It is best to give time for the plan, and the associated documents, to be scrutinised. I intend updating my Scottish Parliament as soon possible at the start of the next session.”
Richard Lochhead, Moray SNP MSP, said that it was refreshing to discuss the restoration of maternity services in the area.
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader and the MP for Moray was present at the NHS Grampian meeting to discuss the plans. He called it “disgraceful”
He stated, “This meeting confirmed my worst fears and those of expectant mothers.” It may take up to a decade for Dr Gray’s hospital to fully return to normal, or it may never happen.
“The Moray situation for expectant moms is nothing short of a scandal. Yet, the health board’s and the health secretary don’t give it the urgency it desperately needs.
“I will press for the full restoration of Dr Gray’s consultant-led maternity service and call upon Humza Yousaf, to answer my questions on behalf expectant mothers and their families in Moray as soon as possible.”
Dr. Gray’s established maternity services in 1995 following a local campaign. However, there have been problems in recruiting and retaining staff in the past decade.
This led to the 2018 downgrading services. Although the move was temporary, it has not resulted in the reinstatement of services.
While some simple births are still possible in Elgin and Aberdeen, the majority of Moray babies are born in Aberdeen.
Depending on the weather conditions, driving from Elgin to Aberdeen may take over 90 minutes.
The Scottish government requested a review last year to determine if a consultant-led service might be reinstated.
The report recommended the establishment of a community-based maternity unit, which would be primarily linked to Raigmore.
It takes approximately one hour to travel from Elgin in the north to Inverness in the south.
NHS Highland bosses stated previously that they had raised the issues at Raigmore.
These include the need to overhaul the Inverness hospital’s Maternity Department so that it is ready for the future and the difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees.
