Radical plan raises hopes of end to medical recruitment crisis

A RADICAL NEW SCHEME is being developed by NHS Grampian that it hopes will end the issues surrounding doctor recruitment at Dr Gray’s Hospital.

The idea would be to create a training and education centre at the Elgin hospital – and senior management are now drawing up plans that would see a steady stream of trainee staff in Moray.

That, it is hoped, will result in both Dr Gray’s and other smaller hospitals in Moray and throughout the NHS Grampian area gaining more staff with wider experience. NHS Grampian’s chief executive, Malcolm Wright, said that they were already working with NHS Education for Scotland on developing a ‘rotation’ for young doctors and nurses coming through training.

“Working in a hospital like this initially will give them a much more general experience, which will enable them to work in rural general hospitals,” Mr Wright said, admitting that recruitment in Elgin had proven to be a real challenge.

It is hoped that such a move would put to an end situations faced over the last year at Dr Gray’s that led to the temporary closure of paediatric services for overnight patients, while maternity services in Elgin had also come under severe pressures.