The Scottish Conservatives election manifesto will include a pledge to reinstate the consultant-led maternity unit at Dr Gray’s, Douglas Ross has said today (Monday).
In his speech to the Scottish Conservative party virtual conference, Mr Ross also challenged the other parties in Scotland to make the same commitment.
The pledge was one of a package of measures announced to help rebuild the economy after the Covid pandemic including major investment in ‘wraparound’ childcare for P1-3 parents, £120m to help pupils catch-up with schooling, £500 retraining grants and a fair funding deal for local councils.
Mr Ross has fought to protect local health services in Moray as a local councillor, MSP and MP.
Campaign group Keep MUM has voiced fresh concerns in recent weeks about the future of the consultant-led maternity unit, three years after the service was reduced. Mums-to-be have faced round trips of up to 100 miles to give birth in Aberdeen or Inverness.
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“The SNP Government has a long track record of centralising services. In contrast, we want to rebuild and empower our local communities.
“Campaigners in Moray are rightly concerned that the temporary reduction in service at Dr Gray’s has already lasted three years and could become permanent.
“That’s why the Scottish Conservatives will state very clearly in our election manifesto, that we will restore the consultant-led service at Dr Gray’s.
“It will be a clear, unambiguous commitment, to reinstate the service that is so badly needed here by mums to be and families who have suffered as a result of the downgrading almost three years ago.
“I challenge the other parties to match that commitment.
“If they don’t do so, then voters should be asking why.”
Scottish Conservative council group leader and parliamentary candidate for Moray Tim Eagle said:
“I am delighted to see a clear commitment to restoring the consultant-led maternity service at Dr Gray’s in the Scottish Conservative manifesto.
“This is a huge issue locally. The reduction in service at Dr Gray’s has affected families across Moray over the past three years.
“Mums-to-be and their partners have endured lengthy drives of 100 miles and more to get in and out of Aberdeen to give birth. That shouldn’t have to happen.
“During the winter months, the journey along the A96 can be treacherous – and the road was closed altogether last month due to snowdrifts.
“The Scottish Conservatives will stand up for these families and make sure maternity services at Dr Gray's are fully restored.”
