SCOTTISH ministers have been accused of an NHS cover-up after more than 600 missing consultant vacancies were uncovered by the British Medical Association (BMA).

Official data reported 439 vacancies, a rate of 6.9 per cent.

But a freedom of information request by the union’s Scotland branch showed the actual rate was more than double, at 15.9 per cent, with 1,076 whole-time equivalent vacancies.