More heat on NHS Harvard shambles

HEALTH chiefs have faced fresh criticism after it emerged NHS Lothian had paid Harvard University more than £70,000 to cancel a contract.

The News revealed last week that bosses had been forced to pay the cancellation fee after agreeing a £572,000 deal to deliver a management course with Massachusetts-based Harvard Business School – before just ten people signed up.

It can also be revealed that a £100,000 grant from the Scottish Government to establish the course was taken back from NHS Lothian.

Labour Lothians MSP Kezia Dugdale said: “NHS Lothian will begin the new financial year next month with a deficit of over £12 million. This [Harvard] is another example of NHS Lothian showing a lack of regard for public money and shows management of NHS Lothian is simply out of touch with what it is there to do.”