It has been revealed that Scotland’s health boards are frequently flying in doctors from distant countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria and even Australia, in order to help the NHS manage increasing demands on the healthcare system.
NHS revealed to be spending thousands on foreign staff to cover shortages
The Sunday Express investigation found that millions of pounds are being spent annually to cover travel expenses and bumper wages for oversea staff to jet in to provide temporary cover.
Some of those drafted in have been paid over £1,000 per day to fill in positions left vacant due to unexpected leave and holidays.
The investigation was launched following the news of NHS Grampian paying out over £5,000 for a doctor to travel from India to cover a weekend shift in the A&E department.
NHS Lanarkshire spent the most over two years on foreign cover, amounting to a staggering £1,269,030.
Following an array of bad press and overspending, the NHS is under fire for being in billions of pounds worth of deficit come 2021. However, the demand for healthcare is greater than the staff the NHS can provide, it remains to be seen if this investigation will lead to a re-evaluation of spending of foreign cover and the system in place.