Boost for mums as Dr Gray鈥檚 expands range of services

By Ewan Malcolm

Boost for mums as Dr Gray鈥檚 expands range of services

Mums giving birth in Elgin have been given a boost with the addition of a new specialist service.

Dr Gray鈥檚 Hospital is adding a 鈥榗ell salvage鈥 option for blood transfusion which will be added to its range of services this summer.

It is already available at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital for those at high risk of bleeding during birth, and now the option will be made available for all mums having caesarean sections at Dr Gray鈥檚.

Calum McDonald, NHS Grampian consultant anaesthetist and training programme director, explained: 鈥淐ell salvage works by collecting blood lost during surgery, 鈥榳ashing鈥 it and then giving it back to the patient during the operation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great alternative to using donated blood, has the added benefit of helping to reduce recovery times when a blood transfusion is needed, and we鈥檙e pleased we will be able to offer this at Dr Gray鈥檚 in the coming months.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a well-established technique at hospitals across the UK and it鈥檚 a great step forward for our Maternity Collaborative across Elgin, Inverness and Aberdeen.

鈥淐ell salvage machines are operated by theatre staff, with clinical decisions around using the blood and management of bleeding being made by the anaesthetist.

鈥淭he team at Dr Gray鈥檚 is going through extensive training and are looking forward to putting these skills into practice.鈥

Jane Raitt, midwifery professional clinical lead for the Moray Maternity Programme, added: 鈥淭he team is continuing to make fantastic progress in terms of developing or redeveloping their skillset, making sure families in our care have a fantastic experience of giving birth at Dr Gray鈥檚.

鈥淭hank you to everyone involved in making this important service possible.鈥

The maternity unit at Dr Gray鈥檚 Hospital was initially downgraded in due to a lack of consultant cover.

But restoration efforts are gaining pace and a new recruitment campaign has helped fill 68 roles since 2023.

Health bosses maintain they are 鈥渃onfident鈥 that a consultant-led service will be in place at Dr Gray鈥檚 by the end of 2026.

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