STV NewsTalks have been held between NHS Grampian bosses and the health secretary after all planned paediatric surgeries at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin were suspended.
The halt followed concerns over the quality and safety of care for children, several months after NHS Grampian reluctantly postponed operations due to staffing and training issues.
It emerged that the paediatric emergency surfaced in April after a visit by inspectors with the regulatory body Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
All planned procedures were later suspended including elective dental operations and ear, nose and throat surgery.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Scottish Government’s health secretary Angela Constance spoke with NHS Grampian’s chief executive and staff members about historic recruitment challenges and training complications which have impacted child and maternity services.
It’s not clear when normal service will be resumed.
Constance said: “As soon as it is safe to do so, I want the full restoration of paediatric surgical services and I have been given that assurance from the hospital management team and also the health board.
“They have said that they will work at pace to return those surgical services.”
Laura Skaife-Knight, NHS Grampian chief executive said: “I regret that we have inconvenienced a number of patients and their families, small numbers but it doesn’t matter because there’s a person at the end of each decision we make, and I don’t underestimate that in any way.
“We are doing everything we can to safely restore and return those services and I am confident that we will do so by the end of this calendar year.”
The health board said it has reviewed its training and offered an apology to families impacted by the delays.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
