The north-east’s flagship hospital flew a doctor in from India after its accident and emergency department was left without cover last weekend.
The Indian consultant made a round trip of more than 8,000 miles to step in after NHS Grampian failed to find a local doctor to cover the shift at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
In the latest twist in the health board’s staffing crisis saga, it has emerged the consultant was flown in at a lost of more than £5,000 – including his travel – to cover for a sick colleague.
NHS Grampian insisted today it was actively recruiting for staff and acknowledged the costs were high, but necessary to ensure adequate cover was in place for A&E last weekend.
However, critics said it was “ridiculous” consultants had to be brought in from so far afield.
The unnamed consultant arrived in Aberdeen last Friday and worked on Saturday and Sunday, remaining at the hospital on call after his 12-hour shifts.
It is understood the consultant has been working for the health board since the start of August, usually doing two weeks on and two weeks off.
But when another consultant fell ill, NHS Grampian asked him to fill the gap.
Nearly 400 patients were seen at the hospital over that period, seeing the consultant, four other doctors and a team of nurses.
There are currently 12 consultants in the A&E department, but the health board is trying to bring in another four.
A spokeswoman for the health board said: “As we go through that process we use locum doctors to ensure a safe and efficient service for patients. Due to short-term sick leave, that process was followed over a recent weekend to ensure that there was full cover across the emergency department. This was put in place and the department dealt safely and effectively with patients.”
She said that although locums were not usually reimbursed for travel, due to the last-minute arrangements it was agreed the consultant’s airfare would be paid for by the health board on a “one-off basis”.
She added: “The doctor is one of our long-term locums and works regularly in the department in Aberdeen.
“He worked two 12 hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday, and remained on call in the hospital. Consultant cover was present throughout the weekend, at all times. At no time has NHS Grampian been left without ED consultant cover.
“Due to the shorter notice than normal to cover sick leave, the total travel costs were paid, on a one off basis. This amounted to just over £2,000. Under the circumstances during that weekend, the total costs to employ this doctor were no more than the costs would have been incurred to employ an internal locum. We recognise locum costs are high, and do try to minimise their use, but cover was essential this weekend because of short-notice sickness absence.”
But last night Dr Jean Turner, executive director of the Scotland Patients Association, said it was “ridiculous” that a consultant had to be flown in from as far afield at India at the last minute.
And Dr Simon Barker, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish Consultants Committee and a paedetric orthopaedic surgeon in Aberdeen, warned: “Doctors in A&E in Aberdeen have been coping with unsustainable workloads to maintain a service in the face of a continued staffing crisis.
“Struggling by on a day-to-day basis is a worrying signal of the extent of the real problem of recruiting and retaining doctors in our emergency medicine departments.”