Local Labour MSP Colin Smyth has revealed that locum spend in NHS Ayrshire and Arran has doubled in the past five years, which he believes is a direct result of the SNP Government’s mismanagement of our NHS.

Figures released by the Scottish Government’s Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland yesterday (4 September) show that for the year end 31^st of March 2018 locum spend by NHS Ayrshire and Arran was £8,596,560 – more than double the £3,959,505 spent for the financial year ending March 2014.

Locums are temporary staff brought to cover when permanent posts such as consultants and doctors can’t be filled. Colin Smyth believes the massive rise in costs are a symptom of the mismanagement of our NHS under the SNP Government in Holyrood, in particular in relation to workforce planning.

Colin Smyth MSP said, “These shocking figures of locum spend in Ayrshire and Arran won’t come as a surprise. There are vacancies right across the board that simply can’t be filled, forcing the local NHS to spend huge sums on temporary staff which is massively more expensive that permanent contracts.

The mismanagement of the NHS under this SNP Government is leaving NHS boards – like NHS Ayrshire and Arran –  financially worse off as they are forced to fork out high locum bills to protect patient care. It’s high time that the SNP tackle the recruitment time facing every aspect of our NHS. Scottish Labour have set up a workforce commission that will devise options to tackle the recruitment crisis and protect our NHS services across Ayrshire and Arran”