Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick cautiously welcomes funding boost for maternity services.
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Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has welcomed the £10million funding boost for maternity services in the north.
But the SNP member has also raised the concerns of Raigmore Hospital staff surrounding possible capacity issues during this phased return.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament Ms Roddick welcomed the increased investment in maternity services in Raigmore and Dr Gray’s hospitals in Inverness and Elgin, and the announcement of a gradual return to consultant-led maternity services at Dr Gray’s.
The Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, announced last week that a full consultant-led maternity unit would be reintroduced at Dr Gray’s with gradual expansion of maternity services.
Meanwhile in the interim the Raigmore maternity unit is to be expanded to allow pregnant women from Moray to access care in labour and birth there as well as in Aberdeen.
Ms Roddick said: “I am glad to hear the Cabinet Secretary announce this £5 million upgrade to the maternity facilities at Raigmore in Inverness.
"These funds will be absolutely vital as the hospital takes on this broadened interim role in anticipation for the return of full maternity services at Dr Gray’s.
"I appreciate that there is a number of concerns around capacity in Raigmore and I hope the Scottish Government works with staff there to provide all necessary re-assurance.
"There is also serious concern in the region that continuing to provide only limited maternity services at Dr Gray’s will continue to place undue distress on pregnant people in the area.
"I hope that these additional funds for both hospitals will allow us to return to the model of providing full maternity care at Dr Gray’s as soon as possible."
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