HEALTH workers are calling for hospital staffing levels to be topped up so patients can receive the same level of care regardless of the day or time they are admitted.

A group of senior doctors, hospital managers, nurses and Scottish Government representatives made the call at a meeting held at the Royal College Of Physicians And Surgeons Of Glasgow.

They said there needed to be adequate numbers of all hospital workers, including support staff, outwith normal working hours to make sure there is a consistent standard of care.

The event - called Why Should We Extend the Working Week? - was hosted by the college's president, Dr Frank Dunn.

Dr Dunn said: "Ensuring there are more consultants and senior doctors working weekends is not enough.

"There needs to be a full complement of staff, including porters, nursing staff, administrators and doctors, in our hospitals at weekends and public holidays to allow necessary procedures to take place. We need to look at the whole team, not just the medical staff.

"Adequate resources must be provided to address this issue."

His call came as Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil announced a review of patient access to GPs.

Mr Neil said the 48-hour target "can be an issue" and some people were unable to get prompt appointments.

During a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Neil said a wider review of the health service would be backed by £1million to test different models of primary care. He also outlined his ambition to form a new Scottish GPs' contract to improve overall care.

He said: "I am asking my officials to work with the British Medical Association to undertake a review of access across all GP practices to develop a plan to address issues that arise from that review."

Labour's Neil Findlay asked for a focus on appointment systems.