iStockA Scotland-wide review of maternity services is underway aimed at improving care for mothers, babies and families.
The independent study will have a particular focus on rural and island communities.
The investigation, chaired by maternal and child health expert Professor Christine McCourt, will consider data and the evidence of mums and staff.
There will be special attention to gaps in the service in Caithness, Elgin and Wigtownshire.
The Scottish Government announcement coincided with health chiefs in Grampian controversially preparing to delay the restoration of a full maternity service at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, weeks after setting a deadline of the end of this year.
Asked why, Jane Gill, NHS Grampian’s programme director for the Moray maternity programme, told STV News: “We’re looking to recruit services or roles that are the most difficult to recruit in the whole of the UK, not just Scotland and not just Moray.
“So, we’re having to be really inventive now looking at ways to recruit and attract people in.
“We do have experienced obstetricians and anaesthetists and theatre staff here at Dr Gray’s but we need more. That’s the key reason we’re having to rephase the project.”
While the health board has used AI and an international recruitment agency, morale at the Elgin hospital is said to be high.
iStockKatie Colville, director of midwifery at NHS Grampian, said: “We’re really supportive of each other and I think we’ve really embraced the opportunity for development and change.
“They’ve seen a lot of new roles introduced here, so that’s created additional career opportunities for staff here. So, I think they’ve really welcomed a lot of the changes and I’m really proud of the team and how they’ve embraced everything so far.”
NHS Grampian’s announcement had a cautious welcome from campaigners who have spent the past eight years fighting for a full restoration of maternity services.
Kirsty Watson of the Keep Mum campaign, said: “I’m worried about the safety of women.
“We’re going into another winter. We all know that the A96 is a difficult and dangerous road. There’s been bad experiences that we’ve heard about already and, unfortunately, those bad experiences are probably not over.”
Moray’s SNP MSP Laura Mitchell said: “It’s obviously deeply disappointing that NHS Grampian is set to miss the 2026 deadline for restoring the service but NHS Grampian has today made a firm commitment to restoring the service as early as possible in 2027.
“It’s absolutely vital that they now bust a gut to make sure that we get there.”
The Grampian board has forecast births at Dr Gray’s reaching 200 this year – almost twice that of three years ago.
The Keep Mum campaigners has reminded board members that the figure was closer to 1,000 before the downgrade.
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