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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Severin Carrell Scotland editor

Scottish ministers ‘mismanaging NHS’, say opposition, as huge hourly rates revealed

Woman's hand with a wedding ring writing on a tablet during a psychotherapy session.
The NHS in Scotland spent £130m in the past five years on hiring temporary psychiatrists for routine mental health appointments. Photograph: Katarzyna Bialasiewicz/Alamy

Scottish opposition leaders have accused ministers of mismanaging the NHS after the “jaw-dropping” costs of hiring emergency psychiatrists came to light.

The Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservatives will press Scottish health ministers this week to explain why the health service has spent more than £130m over the past five years hiring temporary psychiatrists for routine mental health appointments.

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