More than 2,500 patients at Dr Gray’s have had to endure a 70-mile trip by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary due to capacity and specialist issues at the Elgin hospital over the last four years.
New figures released by the Scottish Ambulance Service show 2,572 patients were taken down the A96 by ambulance to Aberdeen due to limited resources and specialist services not being available at Dr Gray’s.
So far this year, there have already been 282 people transferred to the city by ambulance, while the number came in at 582 last year, 535 in 2023, 585 in 2022, and 588 in 2021, some of which involved pregnancies.
The alarming figures come after an unannounced visit by inspectors to Dr Gray’s found that the hospital was operating at 123% capacity – and at one point, four ambulances were queuing outside the emergency department waiting for available space.
One patient had been in the emergency department for 22 hours while waiting for an inpatient bed.
It follows the announcement that Elgin’s under-threat mental health ward could close, resulting in patients being patients sent to Royal Cornhill in Aberdeen. SNP health secretary Neil Gray said he “can’t give any firm commitments” about stopping the closure.
Buckie-based Scottish Conservative MSP and shadow rural secretary, Tim Eagle, said: “These figures are frightening and illustrate the potentially harrowing experience patients living in Moray are having to go through during an emergency.
“This is compounded by our emergency services having to navigate their way up and down the treacherous A96, which is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland.
“For years I have made the case for Dr Gray’s to be given greater priority because it’s vital in supporting the local economy and every community across Moray.”
Mr Eagle added: “I want more than anything to highlight positive success stories but the fact remains neither NHS Grampian or the Scottish Government have provided enough support to Dr Gray’s.
“This is illustrated by the SNP health secretary shamefully admitting that he ‘can’t give any firm commitments’ about stopping the closure of Elgin’s under-threat mental health ward.
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“Our NHS is at breaking point, which is causing enormous pressure for our hard-working paramedics who are having to travel 70 miles due to services not being available at Dr Gray’s.
“The downgrade of service availability is causing distress and heartache for communities across the region.
“It is vitally important that SNP ministers urgently give NHS Grampian the resources it needs to ensure there is enough capacity at Dr Gray’s Hospital, reduce the pressure on ambulance staff, and to guarantee services will be protected going forward.”
