THE BODY REPRESENTING Midwives has pledged to work with NHS Grampian to ensure the quality of maternity services in Moray is maintained.

This week insideMORAY was at the sharp end of a media storm when we published the concerns of staff at the Maternity Unit over the future of services because of difficulties in recruiting junior doctors.

Our story was picked up by television and printed media around the country, many likening the situation in Moray with that of Caithness were similar recruitment issues led to most expectant mothers having to travel to Inverness.

Both Richard Lochhead MSP and Douglas Ross MP have pledged to resist any attempts to run down the service in Elgin – while NHS Grampian has moved to reassure staff and patients that any reduction in service will be a temporary one at worst.

Now the Royal College of Midwives has contacted insideMORAY pledging their support for ongoing maternity services at Dr Gray’s.

Their statement read: “The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) was advised yesterday by concerned RCM midwife members from the Dr Gray’s unit on the proposed changes to maternity services in the Moray area.

“The RCM understands that that the proposed changes will raise concerns in the local community and that this will be a time of great concern to midwives and other maternity staff at Dr Gray’s.

“We will be working proactively with our members and NHS Grampian managers to ensure that the quality of maternity services in the Moray area remains high and that our members’ working conditions and jobs are protected.”

The RCM is the only union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery, offering workplace advice and support as well as professional clinical guidance and information.