FEARS have been raised over a huge surge in long-term vacancies for doctor, nurse and midwife posts - despite record NHS staffing levels.

The latest workforce statistics reveal that the total headcount for staff in hospitals and community healthcare has increased by more than a 1000 over the past year, to 161,806.

The figures include a record number of medical consultants - 5,540 across NHS Scotland - as well as allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and podiatrists, but there are signs that some posts are becoming increasingly difficult to fill.

Nearly half of all vacancies for hospital specialists - 189 out of a total of 400 at the end of September this year - had been empty for more than six months. The rate of such long-term vacancies for clinicians has increased by 31 per cent year-on-year.

It comes amid concerns over the huge proportion of NHS staff who are nearing retirement with 38 per cent now aged over 50 compared to 27 per cent a decade ago.

Simon Barker, chair of BMA Scotland's consultant committee, said such gaps were putting an "unrelenting pressure" on doctors.

He said: “While an increase in the number of consultants is welcomed it is yet again disappointing that the vacancy rate, compared with this time last year, has risen. It is not enough to create extra consultant posts, they need to be filled.

“The fact that almost half of all medical consultant vacancies have been vacant more than six months highlights the difficulties that some specialities are experiencing in recruiting and retaining doctors."

Across Scotland as a whole, more than one in 10 clinical radiologist posts were vacant - with 25 out of the 42 vacancies empty for six months or more. The shortage in such clinicians, who analyse brain scans, mammograms and x-rays for cancer, was most acute in NHS Fife, where there were eight staff in post compared to nine vacancies - including five empty for more than six months.

In NHS Lanarkshire, one in 10 emergency medicine posts had been empty for six or more months while in NHS Borders nearly a quarter of psychiatrist posts were vacant.

Meanwhile, the proportion of nurse and midwife posts which have been empty for three or more months surged by 65 per cent year-on-year, despite a historic high of more than 59,000 staff.

The percentage of planned operations cancelled in October was down slightly on 2015, but 614 were cancelled for "capacity or non-clinical reasons".

Labour Health spokesperson Anas Sarwar said: “There is a growing work force crisis which is getting worse. This is increasing the pressure on staff who are already overworked and under stress and ultimately it is patients who lose out.

“We are seeing more than 600 operations cancelled because hospitals cannot cope with the pressure they are under. That is a worrying sign as winter comes in."

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Under this Government, NHS staff numbers have risen to record highs - with more consultants, nurses and midwives now delivering care for the people of Scotland.

“There are now 11,500 more staff working in our NHS, with nearly 1,000 of these recruited in the last year. In the last 10 years we’ve also seen a 42.8% increase in medical and dental consultants. "These extra staff will ensure people all across Scotland get the high-quality NHS services that they rightly expect."