NHS boards in Scotland have spent more than £31million on agency junior doctors in the past four years, new figures show. Statistics showed £31,052,819 had been spent on junior doctors through agencies to plug gaps between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
The figures were released through freedom of information legislation to Scottish Labour. The highest spender was NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, followed by NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Grampian.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the biggest health board in the country and spent £6.5m. NHS Lanarkshire spent £5.5m while NHS Grampian spent £5.4m.
Meanwhile, NHS Borders spent just over £36,000 during the same time period.The figures come as a planned strike due to take place this week was suspended after the Scottish Government made a fresh offer to junior doctors.Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “While junior doctors were forced to fight tooth and nail for fair pay and conditions, the SNP has been frittering away millions plugging staffing gaps.