More Aberdeen Royal Infirmary emergency staff planned Published duration 3 October 2014

image caption NHS Grampian has said it had been facing "staffing challenges".

More than £2m is set to be spent recruiting staff to alleviate pressure on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary's emergency department.

Senior consultants have been warning that patient safety is being put at risk.

The health board approved the proposals to create the equivalent of 27 full-time posts at a meeting on Friday.

These include consultants, nurses, physician associates and clerical staff.

The board is also planning to introduce further initiatives in November.

Last month, a consultant said doctors at ARI were "exhausted" because of a staffing "crisis".

And at the weekend, NHS Grampian defended its use of a locum consultant who was flown from India to cover a weekend accident and emergency shift.

NHS Grampian has previously admitted "staffing challenges".