Scotland is in danger of creating a "generation of inadequately-trained doctors", a professional body has warned.

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) said problems within medical training have been met with a limited response by the Government and have the potential to "seriously undermine patient safety".

RCPE officials have also warned many trainee consultants are being required to "plug gaps" in hospital rotas at the expense of their training.

And in a recent Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges survey, only 42% of trainees believed they would be adequately trained to become consultants by the end of the process.

The RCPE also said there were insufficient numbers of doctors being trained in some hospitals and many consultants have too little time within their jobs to adequately supervise trainees.

According to the organisation, the full impact of the European Working Time Regulations - which enforce a maximum working week of 48 hours - may yet have to be realised.

The RCPE recommended a series of measures, including guaranteeing protected training time for trainee doctors and consultants involved in supervision, accounting for training time when planning future workforce numbers and increasing patient access to care delivered by consultants.

Dr Neil Dewhurst, president of the college, said: "We have now reached a tipping point, where this evidence can no longer be ignored or considered in isolation.

"Instead, it is imperative that policymakers look at the totality of this evidence and recognise the fundamental problems which exist."

He added: "We urge politicians from all parties to recognise the gravity of this situation and to commit to the recommended actions."