Locums firm rakes in £7m

A GLOBAL company supplying locum doctors has been paid £7 million by NHS Lothian to plug gaps in the market.

Medacs Healthcare received the payments over three years to complement staff doctors in the area's hospitals.

In total, 24 firms have been paid by health chiefs to supply locums, totalling almost 10m.

The issue of temporary medics working in the NHS has led to claims by experts that it is dangerous for patient care.