A LEADING doctor said paying consultants extra cash to work in struggling emergency departments is ‘not the answer’.

Last week the Lancashire Telegraph told how a parliamentary report had called for emergency consultants to be paid extra to work at struggling NHS hospitals, such as the Royal Blackburn.

The Committee of Public Accounts said attempts to improve accident and emergency services were being hampered by a ‘chronic shortage’ of senior doctors.

But Dr David Wrigley, who represents Lancashire doctors in the British Medical Association, said: “Paying emergency department consultants more is not the answer to the crisis we see where consultants are working flat out to meet rising demand.

“To attract more doctors to work in emergency departments the government must address workload pressures, resourcing and work life balance.

“The government must make emergency medicine attractive to young trainees. There simply are not enough emergency medicine consultants who are already struggling with gruelling workloads and limited resources.”