Paediatric surgical services at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin face a potential suspension lasting until the end of December, according to NHS Grampian's chief executive Laura Skaife-Knight. The health board paused all planned dental and ear, nose and throat (ENT) procedures last week, and it has since become clear that emergency surgeries have been halted since June without public announcement.
NHS Grampian's leadership acknowledged the decision to suspend children's surgical services was made on grounds of quality and safety. The suspension affects 10 dental cases and six ENT cases. The six ENT appointments have been rebooked for September, though the specific locations for these procedures remain unclear.
During a visit to the hospital, Health Secretary Angela Constance described Dr Gray's as a "good hospital" but acknowledged the understandable frustration among families affected by the service interruption.
Why was paediatric surgery suspended?
The decision to pause services stems from concerns about staffing, training and governance at the facility. Healthcare Improvement Scotland raised concerns during an April inspection, which later informed the choice to halt surgical services. Skaife-Knight stated that
we took the decision a few months ago to pause paediatric surgery on quality and safety grounds as a precautionary measure.
The health board acknowledged falling short in communicating the June suspension of emergency services to the public. Skaife-Knight explained that patient safety had been the priority at that time, but the lack of transparency represented a communication failure.
When will services resume?
NHS Grampian's medical director indicated that the review and renewal of required training should be finished by the end of the year, after which the board will determine what paediatric surgery can safely resume at Dr Gray's. Skaife-Knight told the media:
we are now looking for assurance around certain aspects of staffing, training and governance in the hope that getting that assurance, we can restore paediatric surgery at Dr Gray's Hospital by the end of December.
What do health officials say?
Skaife-Knight offered an apology to affected patients and families, stating:
we want to apologise to those patients and families who have been affected.
Following her visit to Dr Gray's, Constance emphasised her expectations to hospital leadership. She said:
I have been very clear to the board and hospital managers about my expectation and my expectation is that as soon as it is safe to do so, that we see the full restoration of paediatric surgical services. She added that the suspension would be
disappointing and frustratingfor local families.
Key Facts
- Emergency paediatric surgeries have been suspended since June 2026, with planned procedures halted more recently
- Ten dental cases and six ENT cases are currently affected by the suspension
- The pause follows an April inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland that identified concerns about staffing, training and governance
- NHS Grampian aims to complete its review and training renewal by the end of December 2026
- The health board has acknowledged it should have communicated the June suspension more widely to the public
