ACCIDENT and emergency consultants have warned NHS Grampian for a second time that Aberdeen staff shortages are at risk of endangering patient safety.
The senior medics reportedly raised concerns to health board bosses at a meeting earlier this month. They are said to be worried about A&E doctors being overworked.
Consultants previously warned in June that staff shortages were putting patients at risk. NHS Grampian acknowledged that A&E departments in Aberdeen were facing "staffing challenges".
On Thursday, The Herald revealed that NHS Lanarkshire was also facing an A&E staffing crisis, with plans in place to divert the sickest patients elsewhere.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: "This situation is not unique to Aberdeen and is a serious issue in NHS Grampian, as it is across the whole of the UK.
"There are complex challenges to bringing a sustainable resolution to emergency department staffing and these have been widely publicised. We remain committed to restoring and enhancing staffing in our emergency department and we assure the people of Grampian that we are committed to providing a high quality service.
"We have successfully recruited a locum consultant and a middle grade staff member. We made two consultant appointments in July. One of these takes up position during 2015 and is currently working in the department as he undertakes additional paediatric emergency training. We are currently out to advert for more consultant and middle grade doctors."
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