'Sticking plaster' on Scottish NHS

THE Scottish Government has been accused of taking a “sticking plaster” approach to health staffing after analysis found nearly £2billion has been spent on agency and bank nurses and midwives over the past five years.

- By Lucinda Cameron

Scottish Labour’s analysis of NHS workforce data found that from April 2020 to March this year £1,904,286,884 was spent on temporary staff.

The spending was across Scotland’s 14 health boards, and specialist services including NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service, the State Hospital and the National Waiting Times Centre.

Mismanaging

The bill rose from £235,881,479 in the year ending March 31, 2021 to £489,997,556 in the year to March 31, 2024 before falling in 2025, according to the analysis.