CENTRAL Ayrshire MP Dr Philippa Whitford described attacks on her as ‘ludicrous’ after she was criticised for providing cover at Crosshouse Hospital after a former colleague fell ill.

The SNP’s Westminister health spokesperson topped up her £74,000 salary by earning £57.60 an hour on August 20-21, the equivalent of £490 a day.

In addition, she also worked on September 25 during conference season, as well as two full days and three half-days at Crosshouse Hospital between December 18 and 30.

The MP came under fire following the pre-election pledge of parliamentary colleague Pete Wishart MP that no SNP member has a second job.

Dr Whitford has also failed to meet her party’s pledge to donate a £7,000 salary increase to charity.

Dr Whitford said she was approached to work by NHS Ayrshire and Arran and says she was glad to have assisted the hospital.

She said: “It is absolutely ludicrous to try and make an issue out of this. I worked five days in Crosshouse during my Christmas break to help ensure there was minimal disruption to patient clinics and planned surgery following a colleague taking ill. 

“Given that I did this work in my own time, there was no effect on my constituents or my parliamentary duties.

“Since being elected, it has always been my aim to maintain my licence as a breast surgeon, which is common practice amongst medical  professionals who are elected to political office, and is something the SNP is entirely comfortable with. 

“Indeed, I believe it enhances the contribution I can make in my role as Front Bench Health Spokesperson. Whilst I hadn’t planned to work as many days as

I have in such a short period, I am pleased that I was able to answer the call when it came.

“All the paid work I do outside of my Parliamentary role is registered in the MPs Register of Interests, which is available for anyone to view. It is just incredibly sad that a newspaper would insinuate that this work has somehow been carried out at the detriment to my constituents or purely for financial gain.

“Indeed, as I am part of the staff bank, which provides temporary staffing, it is more cost effective for the health board than having to find an external locum or agency staff.”

Ms Liz Moore, director of acute services at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, added: “ Ms Whitford is a skilled and valued breast surgeon who remains with NHS Ayrshire and Arran on a bank contract basis. Ms Whitford was able to provide services for the benefit of patients in Ayrshire and Arran during the Christmas period due to unexpected consultant absence.”

In order to remain fit to practise, Dr Whitford must continue to attend medical conferences and carry out clinical work as well as undergoing annual appraisals.

Scottish Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, Jackie Baillie MSP, said: “The fact that Philippa Whitford, on a lucrative MP’s salary, can still make an hourly rate in our NHS nearly seven times the living wage shows the real problems in our NHS and how understaffed and under-resourced our health service is under the SNP.”