William Graham (Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales East) has responded to the Welsh health boards revealing that they have spent more than £190m on agency medical staff over the last four years.

“I am alarmed at the Labour Welsh Government’s response to this failure to address health staff planning issue, ‘that this figure represents a small percentage of the annual health and social services budget’,” he said.

“Their disregard for the maxim ‘look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’ is a key indicator as to why they fail to deliver their health care agenda.

“It is a matter of concern that the expenditure on non-contracted hospital staff, including doctors and nurses, for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board has risen by 70 per cent in the three years from 2011/12 to 2014/15 from £4,012,000 to £6,800,000.

 “The Health Minister must make an immediate statement detailing how he will regain control of the Welsh health budget, resolve this issue and deliver an efficient NHS in Wales”