Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has spent over £35million employing agency staff in the NHS over the past two years, the Welsh Conservatives revealed today.
Spending on agency, locum and other temporary staff rose by 8% last year alone, according to figures unearthed by Assembly Member for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders.
The Health Board has defended the figures stating that expenditure on temporary staff is only incurred in the case of recruitment difficulties, short-term staff requirements or to protect patient care.
Janet Finch-Saunders AM said, "There will always be a need for agency and other temporary staff to help guarantee standards of patient care at various pinch points or times of staff sickness.
"However, spending £35million over two years in North Wales alone does suggest some underlying staff recruitment issues.
"I hope the Health Board can reassure North Wales patients that the relative high numbers of temporary staff do not have a disruptive effect on patient care and that resources are being directed towards solving the causes of staffing problems."
Darren Millar AM, Shadow Minister for Health, said, "Relying on agency and temporary staff is not a sustainable solution to recruitment and retention problems in the Welsh NHS.
"£35million is a massive sum of money and would be better invested in training more staff, new recruitment campaigns and improving the standard of conditions for current NHS workers.
"Uncertainty over the future of vital services at hospitals in North Wales, together with Labour’s record-breaking cuts to the Welsh NHS do little to inspire confidence or morale amongst NHS staff.
"The Health Minister needs to end the uncertainty over downgrades to essential services, properly fund our NHS and begin to tackle the deep-rooted recruitment and retention problems in the Welsh Health Service."