AGENCY doctors cost the Royal Bolton Hospital more than £1 million in just 12 months — almost double the amount that was spent the year before.

Hospital bosses spent nearly £1,060,000 on external staff in the last financial year, a Freedom of Information request by The Bolton News has revealed.

This has leapt up from about £634,000 between April, 2008, and April, 2009, and just over £150,000 in 2007/08.

Hospital bosses claim there are a number of reasons for the increase, but patients, staff and taxpayer representatives say they are shocked.

It comes as the trust must to save £7 million this year, with chiefs warning there will be tougher times ahead.

A hospital spokesman said: “Due to increased demand we have been increasing our permanent staffing in areas such as accident and emergency, paediatrics and emerg e n cy medicine.

“We appointed locums to cover these posts during the p r o c e s s , which has taken time due to a recognised national shortage in middle-grade emergency and paediatric doctors.

“It is also useful to use locums to cover short-term increases in demand, such as during winter periods.

“National changes to the way junior doctors are trained and the European Working Time Directive — the 48-hour week — have also meant we have needed to use locums.”

The hospital added: “It is important to recognise that while spending on locums has increased, overall spending levels have r e m a i n e d within budget, meaning we can use our money more flexibly to meet demands.”

But the spending has been heavily criticised, with patients and staff calling for alternatives to be found.

Jack Firth, chairman of patient group Bolton Local Involvement Network, said: “It is astounding, particularly in the present climate.

Bolton LINk will be writing to health chiefs to ask for a meeting to discuss this.”

Harry Hanley, of Staffside, a collaboration of the unions representing staff at Royal Bolton, said: “In the short term it isn’t good, but if it’s necessary it’s what has to be done.

“In the long term it needs sorting, with more recruitment so the money can be used elsewhere.”

Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager at The TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “As budgets are tight and the burden on taxpayers is heavy, it is extra important to ensure sensible spending decisions are a priority.

“There will always be a need for agency staff including doctors, but health-care managers must ensure this is kept to a minimum.”