Moray MP Douglas Ross says he will continue to push for a “cast-iron commitment” for the full return of consultant-led services at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.
Douglas’ remarks come following a meeting with SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf this week.
The Health Secretary had agreed to meet with Douglas following an underwhelming statement in Parliament last month on the progress of restoring maternity services to Moray.
Douglas used the meeting to voice his concerns over the plans to continue looking at moving to Model 4, rather than progressing straight to plans to deliver Model 6 and the return of consultant-led services at Dr Gray’s.
He was told by Humza Yousaf and his officials in the meeting that plans will be presented at a meeting of the board of NHS Grampian on December 15th and that they expect to see timescales and commitments in relation to Model 6.
Douglas said that this should come in conjunction with a Ministerial Statement in Parliament, but this call was sidestepped by Humza Yousaf.
Douglas added that he continues to have concerns that progress on any timescales will not match the pace outlined, given the current downgrade that has lasted over four years was promised to be a temporary one.
Speaking after the meeting, Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I’m grateful the Health Secretary took the time to meet with me to discuss this issue which is of the utmost importance to families across Moray.
“Following the lack of commitments in his most recent Parliamentary statement, I believed it was vital for him to answer questions from campaigners and expectant mothers who have continued to be left in limbo.
“I still have grave concerns over what a move to Model 4 will mean for maternity services not only in Moray but across the Highlands. It was a positive step to hear Humza Yousaf at least admit that continuing to plan for Model 4 has become something of a distraction.
“The plans for a full return of consultant-led maternity services at Dr Gray’s will be presented on December 15 and simply must deliver an early Christmas gift for expectant mums in Moray.
“We must see detailed and costed plans for Model 6 outlined later this month that will give Moray mothers hope they will once again be able to give birth in their own community.
“I still have concerns that the progress will not match the pace of whatever is outlined and we could still be close to a decade before consultant-led maternity services fully return in Moray.
“That is why it is disappointing the Health Secretary did not agree to my call for a statement in Parliament where tireless campaigners could hear from him directly. I’m going to look at ways I can get this matter debated in Parliament before Christmas.
“This meeting was a useful one to put concerns directly to Humza Yousaf and I will continue to scrutinise the SNP Government and NHS Grampian’s next steps at every opportunity to get a cast-iron commitment to deliver the return of maternity services at Dr Gray’s.”