A HOSPITAL in the West of Scotland has been categorised as "very high risk" because of a shortage of emergency doctors.

NHS Lanarkshire said it was experiencing challenges recruiting A&E doctors at Wishaw General, Monklands and Hairmyres hospitals in common with other health boards.

However, according to official documents the situation has reached crisis levels at Wishaw.

The papers state: "The position has moved to a very high risk status." The department is being propped up by nurses who have been trained to deal with major injuries.

In February, 33 patients waited for more than 12 hours to see an emergency doctor at the hospital while 164 patients waited for eight hours or longer.

Across Lanarkshire, there were 260 8-hour waits and 82 12-hour waits reported. The Scottish Government target is for 95% of all patients to be seen within four hours.

Official documents show Wishaw General Hospital currently has four consultant vacancies within A&E while another doctor has been seconded.

NHS Lanarkshire has launched a new recruitment drive to promote existing vacancies and said waiting times for A&E had improved over the last 18 months.

The BMA blamed "pay restraint" over a number of years for the shortage of emergency doctors.

Mr Simon Barker, Chair of the BMA’s Scottish Consultants Committee, said: “Rising vacancy levels are increasing the pressure on services.

"Consultants that are in post are struggling with unsustainable workloads to try to fill the gaps.

" The Scottish NHS needs to show it values its consultants.

"Pay restraint year after year is driving doctors away and harms the future of the NHS.

"NHS employers and Scottish Government need to recognise that doctors and other staff are the greatest asset the NHS has. They must work with doctors at local and national level to make services sustainable both in the short and long term.”

Heather Knox, NHS Lanarkshire Director of Acute Services, said: “As with other health boards throughout the country, we are experiencing challenges with the recruitment of consultants in emergency medicine due to the lack of available qualified staff.

“Medical and managerial staff work closely to manage periods of peak activity and to fill any gaps in the rota to ensure we have the right combination of medical and nursing staff to deliver safe and effective care at all times. Where necessary, we use locum doctors who support our full time staff complement to provide continuity of service while we recruit.

“The Board of NHS Lanarkshire has approved additional investment to allow us to recruit additional medical consultants and we are currently undertaking a recruitment campaign to promote the vacancies available in Lanarkshire with a view to filling these posts.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Under this government NHS Lanarkshire the number of emergency medicine consultants has almost quadrupled, from eight to 31.4 whole time equivalent. These consultants are also supported by other senior medical staff, including specialty doctors.

“The Scottish Government is fully committed to the provision of safe and sustainable emergency medicine services and we have invested significantly in front line staff to support this specialty.”