NHS Orkney defends locum spending

NHS Orkney has defended its locum expenditure, after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that — of the 14 Scottish health boards — it had paid the highest daily rate for GP cover in 2016/17.

The FOI, submitted by Scottish Labour, showed that NHSO had paid one GP £1,400 for a day’s cover during this period.

A spokeswoman from the health board explained: “At £65 per hour for 24-hour coverage £1,400 is easily spent on a daily basis covering vacant GP shifts on the isles.

“The key element is that we require GPs on islands to be available for a full 24 hour period —  i.e. they do not work a shift.  In order to guarantee this availability we must pay for each and every hour.

“Fortunately, the instances of having to pay these rates are rare as we currently have limited GP vacancies.”​