Visitors to north-east hospitals could soon be called upon to help care for their family members and loved ones.

NHS Grampian is among a number of health boards running a scheme where visitors may be asked to assist care for patients.

The Welcome Wards scheme extends visiting hours to allow family members and carers to play a bigger role in patients’ hospital care.

It is understood this could mean helping feed and clean patients and other tasks normally carried out by nursing staff.

The initiative was previously trialled in geriatric wards but will now be rolled out across hospitals in the region.

Similar schemes are also in place in NHS Fife and NHS Lanarkshire.

Health bosses have said involving family members and loved ones more directly can help aid someone’s recovery.

But some have claimed the move has been forced upon health boards due to a staffing crisis in Scottish hospitals.

Scottish Labour’s health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “This is deeply concerning. We already know the SNP has presided over a staffing crisis in our NHS.

“Now the situation appears so bad that hospitals are being forced to ask friends and relatives to volunteer.”

The health board has said the initiative will ensure staff can offer the best care possible.

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: “Our Welcome Wards enhance our work with friends, relatives and carers to offer the best support we can to patients.”

Meanwhile, health secretary Shona Robison has said there has been widespread support for the new wards. She said: “Flexible and extended visiting for families and friends is a welcome innovation and will help ensure patients can spend time with their loved ones while in hospital.

“This recognises the reality that most families need some flexibility to deal with competing demands on their time. The feedback to date has been almost universally positive.”