NHS staff shortages are set to worsen with more than one-fifth of consultants approaching retirement.
The Scottish Conservatives warned of the health service’s ageing workforce when the number of doctors in training is at a five-year low.
According to the latest Scottish Government figures, 21% of consultants in NHS Scotland are 55 or above, the age which they can consider retirement, compared with 19% in 2014.
The September 2018 figure amounts to 1,234 older consultants across NHS Scotland.
Bill Bowman, the North East MSP for the Tories, said that is a concern for services in Courier Country.
“NHS Tayside does not have its troubles to seek – but these figures suggest more problems are looming,” he said.
“An ageing workforce, coupled with staffing shortages, ultimately leads to longer waiting times for patients.
“The SNP Government must take action to address this issue.
“That starts with training more doctors – but it also means that Scotland must remain an attractive place to live.
“The increasing income tax gap between north and south of the border will do nothing to help address these challenges.”
In December, the Scottish Conservatives revealed the number of doctors in training was at a five-year low.
Around the same time, BMA Scotland expressed fears the official vacancy figure for consultants – set at 6.8% – is more likely to be around 14%.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We continue to invest in the medical workforce, and by 2021 we will have increased the number of medical places at Scotland’s universities from 848 to a record high of 1,038.
“Consultant staffing numbers in NHS Scotland are at a record high level, up by over 50% under this Government.
“More than 60% of consultant staff in NHS Scotland are aged under 50.
“The Scottish Government has been working the Royal College of Surgeons and others to create a locum medical bank, using a pool of retired consultant staff who have expressed an interest in working in remote and rural areas
“Through the staff bank service, retired consultant staff can continue to provide valuable services to NHS Scotland.”
