NHS Western Isles paid over £2000 for locum GP to work one shift
14 Nov 2017
NHS Western Isles paid over £2000 for a GP locum doctor to work a single shift it has emerged.
The health board spent £2070 to cover a 12-
On another occasion, the organisation shelled out £1,886 for a temporary locum to work for half a day.
An eye-
Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron slammed the excessive spending.
NHS Western Isles paid over £2000 for a GP locum doctor to work a single shift it has emerged.
The health board spent £2070 to cover a 12-
On another occasion, the organisation shelled out £1,886 for a temporary locum to work for half a day.
An eye-
The figures were revealed following a freedom of information request by the Scottish Conservative.
A spokesman for the board said: “NHS Western Isles recognises the high cost involved in this case and is equally concerned that such a cost is required to deliver any service.
“The board pursues all alternatives to get the safest and most cost effective service to patients.
“For a remote island community, the alternative of no service is, of course, not an option.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron slammed the excessive spending.
Mr Cameron said: “Everyone understands that sometimes health boards need to find temporary staff to fill gaps when they arise, but many people will be aghast that a GP can take home almost £1900 just for working a single shift.
“This is more than most people earn over a month and with money tight across the health service, health boards need to be far more prudent in how they spend their money.
“The only reason that we are seeing such outrageously high spends on locums by health boards is because the SNP Government have completely failed to address the severe shortage of GPs and other health workers over the 10 years they have run the NHS in Scotland.”
