NHS Spending Record Amounts On Agency Staffing

MFR News can reveal the NHS spent a record £113 million hiring agency staff last year. Government figures show the cost of hiring locum doctors, agency nurses and temporary staff to fill posts is up 25% on the previous year - in NHS Highland almost £10 million was spent and a further £7 million was spent by NHS Grampian. The SNP Government says real terms costs are slightly lower than when they came to power.

Health Secretary Shona Robison's aiming to reduce the cost:

But Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jenny Marra says agency spending is up: