Probe into health boards launched

Shona Robison launched an investigation into Scotland’s health boards in the wake of concerns about NHS Tayside’s use of charitable cash.

The health secretary is seeking assurances from health boards that money is being used properly after it emerged NHS Tayside has used £2 million from a charitable trust to fund a new computer system.

Last night Ms Robison said: “It is imperative that all boards use charitable donations for the purposes of which they were given. At my request, the chief executive of NHS Scot- land has written to every NHS board chair seeking assurance that endowment monies are being spent for the correct purposes. We are also engaging directly with OSCR on this issue.”

Ms Robison took the action after Labour’s health spokesman Anas Sawar wrote to herto say confidence in the NHS had been damaged.

Mr Sarwar said: “An investigation would, at the very least, help restore some of that lost confidence, particularly for those families who have given money to NHS Tayside’s charitable trust in good faith.such behaviour clearly has national ramifications.”