The health secretary has admitted pregnant women in Moray are the victims of “poor” communication after she heard many don’t know where they are going to give birth.
Jeane Freeman was asked at Holyrood by Tory Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston for an update on the reinstatement of maternity services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
She said progress was being made on adopting the recommendations of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Catherine Calderwood’s advisory group on maternity and paediatric services at the hospital.
The advisory group was launched after maternity services were downgraded, meaning that some pregnant women from the area have had to go to Aberdeen or Inverness to give birth.
The downgrading, due to staff shortages, has been opposed by the Keep Mum (Maternity Unit for Moray) campaign.
Ms Freeman said 38% of births by local mothers had taken place in Dr Gray’s in November.
In addition the Scottish Ambulance Service has recruited more staff in Moray.
But Mr Halcro Johnston said there will still complaints from expectant mothers who felt they were not being given enough information.
The Tory MSP pointed out that the CMO’s group report said communication with women had been “poor”.
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Mr Halcro Johnston said: “There are still regular complaints from patients with cases arising of women just not knowing who to contact if problems arise during their pregnancies – not knowing even weeks away where they will give birth and without information about how to get the support they need.”
The MSP asked if the health secretary had confidence that communication was working effectively and urged Ms Freeman and NHS Grampian chief executive Amanda Croft to attend next month’s Keep Mum meeting.
Ms Freeman said she accepted the point about communication, adding it had “from the earliest days been poor”.
She said: “I think NHS Grampian recognise that. I most certainly do.
“We as a government have worked closely with them to improve their communication both with mums and with residents in and around the Dr Gray’s area and more widely.
“I do think improvement is there to be seen, although I accept there are still areas where more can be done.”
Ms Freeman added that she hoped the NHS Grampian chief executive would “consider” it to be a priority to attend the Keep Mum meeting.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “We are firmly committed to restoring a safe, sustainable and comprehensive maternity service at Dr Gray’s Hospital.
“Some of those changes and additional choices for women are well under way with, for example, the reinstatement of caesarean sections and the special care baby unit in recent weeks.
“We have always been very clear that women with concerns or questions should always speak with their midwife to talk through their options first-hand or for any other further queries to contact Ward 3 directly.
“As local executive lead, Pam Gowans is working with the team in Moray to organise an engagement event towards the end of January to update the public on ongoing plans.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “We are firmly committed to restoring a safe, sustainable and comprehensive maternity service at Dr Gray’s Hospital.
“Some of those changes and additional choices for women are well underway with, for example, the reinstatement of caesarean sections and the special care baby unit in recent weeks.
“We have always been very clear that women with concerns or questions should always speak with their midwife to talk through their options first hand or for any other further queries to contact Ward 3 directly.
“As local executive lead, Pam Gowans is working with the team in Moray to organise an engagement event towards the end of January to update the public on ongoing plans.”