NHS Grampian ‘committed to restoring current services as quickly as possible’

NHS Grampian’s chief executive has said she recognised the “strength of feeling” within the community following the suspension of paediatric surgical services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.

Services were suspended following an unannounced Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) inspection in April that identified a number of issues including the quality and safety of care for children and number of staff available with advanced paediatric life support training.

The Scottish Government said yesterday that it expects services to be restored “as soon as it is safe to do so” while Health and Care Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance said in a letter to Moray MSP Laura Mitchell she had sought “urgent assurances” from NHS Grampian.

Now the health board’s chief executive Laura Skaife-Knight has spoken out.

In a statement issued late yesterday evening she said: "I recognise the very real concerns and strength of feeling from our local community in Elgin.

“I spoke to the Cabinet Secretary and Laura Mitchell MSP yesterday to discuss this important matter. Dr Gray’s Hospital is a vital part of NHS Grampian and our health system in the North East of Scotland.

“As a board, we are committed to restoring the current services as quickly as possible subject to assurance regarding current safety concerns being received and of course Healthcare Improvement Scotland confirming they are content also."

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