HOSPITALS and GP surgeries will have to draft in thousands of costly agency staff during the 2012 Olympics as National Health Service staff are diverted to jobs at the Games, according to an official report.

A leaked NHS circular warns of the huge impact of the Games on health services, estimating that an extra 4,600 medical professionals will be needed in London during the month-long event.

Olympics organisers plan to call for volunteers from across the UK to staff the many extra surgeries pledged as part of Britain’s winning bid. The document warns hospitals and GP surgeries to be prepared for extra costs as their staff are given leave to go to London. Heavy pressure on the city’s frontline health services will be expected as 1m visitors are received.

“NHS staff who volunteer will leave gaps ... at their place of work, which will have service implications, especially as no national targets will be relaxed. These gaps will need to be filled with agency staff, at significant cost to NHS employers,” the document states.

Among the health commitments are an Olympic village polyclinic, sporting venue sub-clinics and dedicated surgeries at all Olympics hotels.

Huge extra demand on ambulances and emergency units are predicted and there are concerns that sexual health clinics will not be able to cope because of an increase in promiscuity.

The document says absenteeism will be high because of the summer holidays and Ramadan, and the pressures could well mean agency staff are at a premium. There will be no extra cash to deal with the surge in demand for services.

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