A north-east MSP has urged the Scottish Government to give NHS Grampian additional funding to entice frontline staff to the region by offsetting high living costs.
Labour’s Richard Baker has written to Health Minister Alex Neil after bosses warned that patients in the north-east faced a care crisis due to staff shortages at GP practices and hospitals.
One option being considered is incentive payments, which could cost the health board more than £21million a year.
Mr Baker said NHS Grampian would not be able to foot the bill due to constraints on its budget imposed by the SNP government.
He said: “This issue needs Scottish Government action before it will be resolved as the health board is already working to extremely tight budgets with a funding gap of over £30million a year.
“Alex Neil must be willing to provide the financial support to our health board in addressing these issues and ensure that our health board has the funding package it needs to operate under these pressures.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said NHS Grampian was in line to receive a 4% funding increase for 2014-15.
Maureen Watt, SNP MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, said she had spoken to Finance Secretary John Swinney about the idea of a London-style weighting allowance for NHS Grampian staff on Wednesday.
“It is on the radar of the government and the government have officials working with NHS Grampian on the issue,” she said.
“There are other ways of trying to help in this area, for example trying to get them more affordable accommodation and building more houses. These are all areas I explored with the cabinet secretary.”
The government spokesman added: “As part of the NHS funding settlement announced in February, NHS Grampian is to receive additional resource funding of £29.5million in 2014-15, this represents a 4% increase.
“Included within this additional resource funding is £15.5million as part of an agreed plan to bring NHS Grampian closer to parity under the funding formula for NHS boards by 2016-17.
“NHS Grampian will also receive £17.1million capital funding to be invested in improving buildings and equipment in 2014-15.”