Children’s ward in full swing once again at Dr Gray’s Hospital

The children’s ward at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin is once again offering round-the-clock care and has fully re-opened as a combined inpatient ward and assessment unit.

Consultant Paediatrician Dr Morag Turnbull who is the clinical lead for paediatrics at Dr Gray’s explained: “We’ve been offering paediatric care at the hospital as a short stay assessment unit for a number of years. While some patients will continue to require transfer to access highly specialist care, the vast majority will now be able to stay with us for as long as they need. This is a great step forward.”

The enhancement of services follows the investment in staff made possible through the Maternity Collaborative and the success of the We Wish You Worked Here recruitment campaign to attract health specialists to live and work in the North of Scotland. The expansion of maternity services includes a requirement for additional paediatric expertise and more dedicated resident doctors.

The team was represented at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Conference in Glasgow last week, showcasing the incredible career and lifestyle opportunities in Moray as part of the campaign.

Their stall featured cutting-edge VR technology, giving 1,500 attendees from around the world the chance to enjoy a virtual tour of Moray’s stunning scenery. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with 62 professionals expressing interest in potential roles.

While the ward has faced recruitment challenges for a long time, the number of permanent paediatricians in the team has doubled in the last couple of years. They are also benefitting from the expertise of five new trainee advanced paediatric nurse practitioners who will help to provide 24/7 care and support the future development of neonatal services at Dr Gray’s.

Dr Turnbull added: “Our team is going from strength to strength and it’s great we’re able to care for more children and help many families access support for chronic conditions closer to home. It’s fantastic we've been able to attract new talent and expertise to Moray and we look forward to the continued development of our services.”

Find out more about working and living in the North of Scotland: https://www.wishyouworkedhere.scot/