An NHS Grampian board member has called on the Scottish Government to relax its grip to help the board solve its recruitment crisis.
He also said it was time for the warring sides in the referendum campaign to put the debate behind them as continuing “political turmoil” was putting off doctors from working north of the border.
Earlier this week NHS Grampian medical director Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen said the board could not compete with English health trusts that were able to offer bigger financial incentives.
He told MSPs that Scottish health boards had their hands tied by national agreements and pay conditions that allowed for no deviation.
Senior Aberdeen Labour councillor Barney Crockett said high property prices in Aberdeen made working in the city less attractive compared to less expensive areas where wages go further.
With that in mind the north-east must be given the powers to deal as it sees fit with the problem, rather than be imposed upon from above, he said.
The former city council leader said the referendum was meant to be a “once in a generation” event, but Yes campaigners were now questioning the result or advocating a new plebiscite in a few years time.
“Everyone knows that once you are here it is an attractive place, but maximising the attractiveness is a challenge,” Mr Crockett said
“First and foremost we need to put this political turmoil behind us because it is very off-putting. We need to get some stability and push Aberdeen as an outward looking area that is attractive.
“We need also to have the city much more empowered because that comes back to the fact that the Scottish Government is laying down the wages for these jobs rather than the people in this locality who are aware of the situation.”