Pressure on Sturgeon over hospital charges

HEALTH Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has come under pressure to guarantee full funding for the annual charges which NHS Lothian will have to pay for Edinburgh's new Sick Kids hospital.

The new 250m hospital is to be funded through the Scottish Futures Trust, with the health board then paying "rent" to the construction company.

Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm asked Ms Sturgeon to pledge full government funding for the payments. He said: "If it is short of 100 per cent, it will put further strain on NHS Lothian's budget."

Ms Sturgeon said the government would give "as much support as we can". She said: "While details of the procurement strategy are still being worked through, there are some questions we can't be absolutely definitive about."