The NHS in Tayside will lurch from crisis to crisis unless the root causes of its staffing problems are urgently addressed, patients have been warned.
In March, health chiefs had to delay operations and merge wards at Perth Royal Infirmary due to a crippling nursing shortage.
Contingency measures were put into operation to preserve safe patient care in the face of 170 empty posts across Tayside.
Senior politicians have been monitoring the situation ever since but fear that too little is being done at a national level to address staffing problems across the health service.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart said he believes the problems at PRI have “peaked” for the moment but said he had “little confidence” they will be addressed in the short term.
Mr Stewart said: “These burgeoning staffing issues are the hospital’s biggest problems and will continue to be.
“I do think it has peaked for the time being but it can only get worse and eventually this and the NHS funding crisis will clearly have a knock-on effect on patient care.
“With long-term bed-blocking, staff numbers being stretched and those on duty having to work such long hours, often covering more than one shift, I have little confidence on its improvement in the short term.
“Perth and Kinross has an ageing population, with many people of retirement age and beyond in the area, some requiring care.
“Unless there is something positive done about this, I can see the vicious circle coming round and it can only rise again.”
Despite numerous attempts to recruit nursing staff, including five rounds of advertising vacancies, NHS Tayside has been unable to address its nursing shortage at PRI.
The temporary response has been a realignment of services at the hospital through a plan developed by clinicians together with nursing, partnership and health and social care colleagues.
NHS Tayside believes the plan — though not ideal — will in the short term ensure it can “continue to deliver high-quality, person-centred, safe and effective care at PRI”.
Staff have been praised for their response to the difficulties, though some have been moved to speak out about the pressure staffing shortages place upon the hospital team.
One member of staff at Perth Royal Infirmary, who asked not to be identified, said: “PRI is a good functioning hospital when there are adequate staff and beds but unfortunately struggles with recruitment are putting a strain on it.
“The shortage of staff and seeming inability to fill posts has left wards with a shortage of senior cover, low staff morale and too much pressure on junior nurses.
“This lack of nurses and beds will ultimately lead to a concerning reduction in patient care to the people of Perthshire.
“The failings of the recruitment process need to be highlighted. Other wards and hospitals are more attractive.”