NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council are working together to identify “land assets” that could be developed as low-cost housing to help address an ongoing recruitment crisis.
Both the health board and the local authority are struggling to fill key vacancies for nurses, doctors and teachers due to the high cost of living and a shortage of affordable homes in the area.
Outgoing NHS Grampian chief executive Richard Carey has revealed in a letter to an Aberdeen MSP that information on potential sites is being shared between the two organisations.
Mr Carey told SNP member Kevin Stewart that part of the Foresterhill hospital complex is already being considered as a site to provide accommodation, in a deal with Grampian Housing Association, for up to 100 staff who meet set “qualifying criteria”.
He welcomed separate plans from the council’s Labour-led administration to build 350 affordable properties on the former Summerhill Academy site, close to Foresterhill.
The Scottish Government is also seeking to develop the old Craiginches prison for housing aimed at key public sector staff.
However, Mr Carey acknowledged that major challenges remain.
Some of the vacancies at NHS Grampian are for high-paid consultants, who may not be considered as prime candidates for affordable housing.
Mr Carey said: “Despite the work ongoing regarding a physical solution, there still remains some concern at what might be determined as qualifying criteria, given the pay scales that some key clinical staff are on.
“Progress is evident, however the solution is some time away – probably two years; consequently we continue to explore other short term solutions.”
Mr Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, had suggested previously that the health board and the council work together, rather than in “isolation” to tackle the housing problem.
He said: “I am very pleased to have received a positive response to my suggestion that NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council work together more closely to address that problems of housing that are causing both organisations major difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff.
“With both organisations looking to develop surplus parts of their estate there is a strong chance that they will be able to strike a better deal by working together on development proposals.
“Our public services need to be able to attract and keep key workers like nurses and teachers and it is clear that the sky high price of housing in Aberdeen is acting as a major barrier to achieving this.”