DOCTORS in Scotland are stretching themselves to breaking point as staff shortages take their toll on the NHS, a health union warns.

The British Medical Association (BMA) made the claim after its snap survey of members showed a staggering 80 per cent of doctors believed staffing levels were unsafe either sometimes or regularly.

Only 1 per cent of the 610 respondents to the BMA poll believed that their department was “well-staffed” at present, 72 per cent believed the situation had deteriorated over the last two years and 62 per cent believed there were not enough doctors to meet this winter’s demands.

One doctor, commenting anonymously, said: “Every week is starting to feel like working in a war zone. This is only going to get worse as the winter progresses.”

The survey also appeared to show little confidence among medics that the Scottish government is on track to turn the crisis around, with 83 per cent having no belief that there was “a proper plan in place to improve recruitment and retention.”

BMA Scotland chairman Dr Iain Kennedy said “both medical and wider staffing in Scotland’s NHS are at dangerously low levels.” He urged the Scottish government to wake up.

He said: “Now is not the time for platitudes or to tell us that we are at a record high in terms of doctors because it simply will not wash with the profession, who are stretching themselves to breaking point, risking harm to themselves, in a bid to provide the level of care the people of Scotland need and deserve.

“If the Scottish government will not heed BMA Scotland’s warnings, I implore ministers and their staff to listen to Scotland’s doctors:

“Act, and act urgently. Please. For the future survival of Scotland’s NHS and the patients who rely upon it.

“It is only by solving the medical workforce crisis that you can even think about making progress in other areas like cutting waiting lists.

“It is non-negotiable.”

The Scottish government said: “NHS Scotland staffing is at record levels, bolstered by our investment since autumn 2021 of some £18 million to recruit 1,250 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from overseas by the end of this financial year.

“We are incredibly thankful to the NHS workforce for the vital service they provide and we know they face continued pressure.”