Doctor lifts lid on recruitment problems

A DOCTOR has lifted the lid on the strain being placed on the NHS by staff shortages.

Dr David Yirrell says he has not been able to fill two consultant posts in his Ninewells department, despite advertising on three occasions. He said the recruitment crisis is worsened by reliance in Dundee on recruits with links to the area as the city is “neither on the tourist route nor a major centre”.

Dr Yirrell, clinical lead for Ninewells’ department of medical microbiology, made his comments as part of an inquiry by MSPs into staffing problems within NHS Scotland outlining that, of the five consultants he needs, there are two posts that cannot be filled. He told the committee: “We have advertised on three occasions with only one suitable candidate, who declined the post in favour of working as a locum.

“To fill the gaps we have employed locums, part-time and retired staff at considerable expense and strain on the service. There is an existing shortage of consultant microbiologists and with the changes in medical training (now joint with infectious diseases) this is only going to get worse.”

George Doherty, NHS Tayside’s director of human resources, said the health board has a “strong track record” of recruiting, but added there are areas “where national shortages impact our ability to secure suitable candidates”.

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