Hospitals are being forced to fund flights and hotels for agency nurses on £100 an hour amid a growing NHS staffing crisis.
A Sunday Mail investigation has revealed a 2000% increase in private contractors over the last decade – from £3.9 million in 2012 to £88.9 million today.
NHS Scotland is also paying about £102 million a year for agency doctors and dentists – up from £67 million in 2014.