Nurse Melanie Gale sees colleagues in tears every day because of staff shortages.
The GMB rep hears many admit to having to use food banks or go to visit relatives to get a meal.
Others are working themselves into the ground, never having a day off because they have to take on extra shifts to make ends meet.
Melanie said: “At the end of the month, you have nothing left and many are having to decide whether to pay for gas and electric or buy food. There is no money left to save.
“People are at the stage if a cooker or a washing machine breaks down they don’t have the money to replace it. No one should have to live without basic necessities.
“I know people are having to go to their families for money or meals or are going to food banks. It is appalling.
“Nurses are taking on extra bank shifts which is risking them burning out even faster. No one should have to work six or seven days a week.”
Melanie has already trimmed back everything she can.
She added: “I have learned over the years that if I don’t actually need something I can’t buy it.
“I rarely see friends but if I do we don’t go out, I have them round to the house to save money.
“I changed my phone to a basic contract recently from £120 to £30 a month, the saving will go to increased gas, electric and food.”
But apart from the individual hardships, the haemorrhaging of staff is bringing the NHS to its knees.
Melanie said: “If we were paid a fair wage and got a pay rise above inflation, we would start to see people coming back into the profession. We are losing so many staff because they can get slightly more money working in shops without the responsibility.
“We feel so undervalued.
“We are losing experienced workers because their mental health is suffering and they just can’t do it any more. I see people leaving after their shift in tears.
“The Scottish Government don’t believe us when we say we have had enough.
“Someone needs to take responsibility and that is the Scottish Government.”
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