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Dr Gray's Hospital Boosts Births with Maternity Expansion

NHS Grampian confirms Dr Gray's in Moray is set to see nearly 200 births this year, with a new Special Care Unit opening in December.

Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin, Scotland, showing its modern maternity expansion.
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Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin, Scotland, showing its modern maternity expansion.

Births at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Moray are projected to reach nearly 200 by the end of this year, almost double the number from three years ago, following a significant expansion of its maternity services.

NHS Grampian has announced that Dr Gray’s Hospital is on track to record almost 200 births by the close of 2026, a substantial increase from just three years prior. Once the expanded consultant-led maternity service is fully operational, an estimated four out of five women in Moray will have the option to give birth at the hospital.
The enhanced consultant-led service aims to provide the most comprehensive and advanced maternity care ever available in Moray. Additionally, the new Special Care Unit at Dr Gray's is anticipated to open in December, and refurbishment work on a dedicated area within Ward 3 has now been completed.
A new phased approach, which NHS Grampian’s Board will consider on Thursday 8 October, proposes introducing the full consultant-led service in stages. This will allow women and families to benefit from each new component as it becomes safely ready.
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"As everyone knows, having the full expanded service in place by the end of this year was always an ambitious target. We will have a large part of the service in place by the end of the year, but some elements will need more time. We owe it to women and families to be completely open about that and clear about what is available now, what comes next and when, so they have the information they need to make choices and plan. Rather than waiting for one date when everything switches on at once, the proposal being put to the Board this week would allow us to bring services in as soon as they are safe and ready, giving women and families access to more care closer to home at the earliest opportunity."

Jane Gill · Programme Director for the Moray Maternity Programme
Jane Gill further explained that, alongside the increase in births at Dr Gray’s since the expansion work began, planned Caesarean births have resumed, antenatal and ultrasound services have been enhanced, and the Day Assessment Unit and maternity telephone triage service have been introduced.
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"Together, those changes have saved families tens of thousands of miles of travel and provided thousands of appointments in Elgin over the last three years. We’ve also got some fantastic new specialist staff working here in Moray and this includes dedicated perinatal mental health support and enhanced specialist care for women with diabetes during pregnancy. This has really strengthened local access to specialist services, allowing more women to receive the care they need closer to home. And, importantly, as these figures show, more and more babies are being born here. There is a huge amount for our teams to be proud of, and we want to keep building on that."

Katie Colville · Director of Midwifery at NHS Grampian
Jane Gill also noted that efforts are underway to recruit additional obstetricians, anaesthetists, and other staff. Work continues on strengthening round-the-clock cover, including in theatres, and ensuring specialist support is available for complex maternal or neonatal care. A recruitment campaign, 'Wish You Worked Here', targeting anaesthetists, pharmacy staff, and project staff, has already helped recruit over 70 new members to maternity and supporting services, with a further phase planned to attract consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists.
The new roadmap and updated eligibility information, available at nhsgrampian.org, provide a clear overview of current services, upcoming developments, and requirements for further service introductions.
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"I know some people in Moray will remain sceptical, and I understand why. They have waited a long time for this, and I want them to know that I take personal responsibility for making sure we do everything possible to finish the job. Our end destination is clear, and the full service is now firmly within reach. We just need a little more time, but we are determined to continue the work we have started by delivering the full consultant-led maternity service that Moray has been promised. My assurance to families is simple: we will do it well and we will do it as soon as is safely possible next year. I would like to thank the Scottish Government for their continued support in making this possible. Their commitment of over £10 million is clear evidence of that support and of their commitment to ensuring as many women and families as possible in Moray can receive care closer to home, where clinically appropriate - which is our aim."

Laura Skaife-Knight · Chief Executive of NHS Grampian
Based on information from the official source: NHS Grampian (05/10/2026)

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