Relatives of SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray blast NHS over travel funding for seriously ill baby

Holly Child and Adam Robinson were dismayed after NHS Orkney refused funding for a second travel escort for their baby son Jaxon.

Relatives of SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray have blasted the NHS after it refused to grant funding for the parents of a sick baby to travel for lifesaving treatment.

Adam Robinson and Holly Child applied to their local health board for assistance with the cost of travelling from their home on Orkney to the Scottish mainland.

The couple recently spent three weeks in hospitals in Aberdeen and Glasgow while their baby son Jaxon underwent vital heart surgery.

Adam is Gray’s brother-in-law and previously worked in the SNP politician’s Westminster office.

Little Jaxon has a series of heart complications and underwent surgery three weeks ago.

The tiny tot will require further treatment meaning more travel for the family to appointments.

But the family was stunned after an NHS Orkney review panel ruled the exceptional circumstances criteria for “medical necessity” had not been met for both parents to receive funding to travel with their seriously ill child to his next appointment.

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The health board instead provided funding for just one escort – meaning the family must pay for a second escort out of their own pocket.

Their original application was supported by a GP and a health visitor but was still rejected by NHS Orkney.

The couple plans to write to the chief executive of NHS Scotland to highlight their concerns with paediatric care on Orkney.

“Our GP and health visitor had supported our request for an additional escort to travel due to Jaxon’s complex health needs,” Adam told The Orcadian.

“We had detailed all of Jaxon’s health needs on the travel funding form only to be refused without explanation.

“NHS Orkney expects my partner Holly to travel by herself with our five-month-old son, who only had heart surgery three weeks ago.

“He is currently on medication for at least three months and is required to be fed by an NG tube. At the same time, she is expected to travel with all of Jaxon’s medication and equipment, as well as his usual things, ie clothes, bottles, milk, car seat, pram, changing bag, and her luggage.”

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour health spokeswoman, said “This heartbreaking case lays bare the real human cost of the crisis in Scotland’s NHS.

“Families right across the country, including families like the Health Secretary’s own, are being asked to accept the unacceptable as services struggle to cope.

“The SNP must act with the urgency needed to support health boards so that every single child gets the standard of care they need and deserve.”

Laura Skaife-Knight, CEO of NHS Orkney, said: “I have spoken to Ms Child personally today to apologise profusely to her, Mr Robinson and their son Jaxon for the distress and upset caused by our communications this week.

“I confirmed in this phone call to Ms Child that NHS Orkney would support the requirement for two escorts accompanying Jaxon to his upcoming appointment.

“I have committed to learning from Ms Child’s experience and working with her and her family to make further improvements where this is necessary.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is clear that patient safety is absolutely paramount. We cannot comment on individual cases, and this is an operational matter for NHS Orkney.”

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