HOW IT’S SPENT

THE NHS in Scotland has published details showing how it spent £9.8 billion of public money last year.

The Costs Book 2011 analysis showed the NHS had a pay bill of more than £4.9bn for staff working in the hospital and community services in 2010-11.

NHS boards spent almost £1.4bn on prescription drugs used in hospitals and dispensed in community pharmacies – 14.6 per cent of total operating costs and the equivalent of £264 for every person in Scotland.

Some £5.5bn was spent on hospital services, including the staffing bill, £117 million on cleaning, £80.9m on catering and £72.3m on heat and light.