HEALTH boards in Scotland have spent more than £31 million on agency fees to fill shortages of junior doctors, figures published today reveal.

Scottish Labour obtained the data via a freedom of information request after junior doctors called for a strike in a pay dispute with Holyrood.

At the weekend the doctors’ union BMA Scotland said it had agreed to suspend the upcoming four-day walkout after receiving a new pay offer.

Members are now being consulted on the proposal: a 12.4 per cent pay rise for 2023-24 alongside another rise of 4.5 per cent for 2022-23, a total pay rise of 17.5 per cent over two years, 3 per cent more than the previous offer.

But Labour warned that a fair pay deal is the bare minimum doctors need, calling for better workforce planning and action to tackle the wider crisis in the NHS.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “While junior doctors were forced to fight tooth and nail for fair pay and conditions, the SNP has been frittering away millions plugging staffing gaps.

“The SNP’s disastrous workforce planning has left NHS staff exhausted and demoralised and left taxpayers with a £31m bill.

“A fair pay deal is essential, but it is the bare minimum the Scotland’s dedicated NHS workers deserve.”

The figures were broken down to each health board’s agency spend for foundation years one and two doctors from 2019-20 to 2022-23.

The largest spend was by Greater Glasgow and Clyde boards at £478,870 and £6,061,509 respectively, toalling £6,540,379.

Second was NHS Lanarkshire with a total of £5,542,510 followed by NHS Grampian with £5,370,000.

NHS Borders had the smallest spend, with £36,830.78 used on year-two doctors only.

The BMA and Scottish government have been contacted for comment.