HOSPITAL chiefs have turned to advertising positions in Indian newspapers after nearly £10m has been spent on agency staff.

Bosses have claimed to be struggling to fill positions at Halton and Warrington hospitals between April and January leading to the costly locum bill.

The news comes as health regulator Monitor announced last week it was investigating the hospital's finances after the year end deficit increased from £1.5m to £5.9m.

Board members heard during last month's meeting, temporary staff remains at the highest monthly level while high sickness absence is also causing additional staffing spends.

The threshold for bank, agency and medical locum staff is 4.5 per cent of the total pay bill but in January 2014 that figure increased to 10.32 per cent and between April and February 2015 it was at 7.76 per cent.

The total expenditure for April to January is £9.9m with more than £4m spent on agency nursing staff alone.

In total 34 roles are currently being filled by locum and agency staff including a consultant gastroenterologist, a 12-month consultant cardiologist position, four staff in elderly care, four speciality doctors and five consultant radiologists.

When quizzed during the board meeting over why positions in elderly and stroke care had been vacant for 'years rather than weeks or months', members were told the situation at Warrington Hospital 'reflects a national picture rather than anything specific locally' and they were looking at internal development.

The report adds: "In order to staff the additional intermediate care beds which were opened earlier this year the trust had to recruit staff predominantly from agencies and some of these staff have continued to be needed to meet additional staffing pressures.

"The month of January has seen an unprecedented demand on beds which has placed an additional demand for staffing and many of these have been agency staff.

"The trust is working with an agency called Globalmedirec to recruit consultant radiologists and further Skype interviews have been held.

"Unscheduled care have identified six consultant posts suitable for international recruitment and an advert will also appear in the local Indian press."