EU rules force NHS to hire staff

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The NHS in Scotland has had to employ more than 150 extra staff to help cope with a reduction in the number of hours junior doctors can work.

New European rules reducing junior doctors' hours to a maximum of 48 per week came into force at the weekend.

NHS Grampian revealed it had employed 60 additional staff in order to comply with the European Working Time Directive.

BBC Scotland has learned other health boards are also feeling the impact.

NHS Highland has employed the equivalent of 33 full-time staff, while NHS Lothian has employed 29.

However, some health boards have said they have managed to implement the changes without recruiting any additional staff, including Scotland's largest health board Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

NHS Grampian said employing the 60 extra staff was part of the reason it was facing a £900,000 financial deficit this year.

BBC Scotland health correspondent Eleanor Bradford said that with all health boards facing a tight budget this year, the cost of these extra posts are likely to have an impact on other areas.

Unions have warned that the 48-hour weekly limit could harm the quality of training for junior doctors.