SCOTTISH Labour is demanding a public inquiry after revelations that a new £150 million children’s hospital in Edinburgh cannot be opened because it is unsafe.

Taxpayers are also forking out £1.4 million a month in service charges to the private consortium Integrated Health Solutions Lothian (IHSL), which built the 200-bed Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, despite it standing idle.

Labour and public service union Unison say Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeane Freeman should resign over the debacle.

The hospital was built for NHS Lothian by the consortium which will receive £432 million over 25 years for construction and maintenance.

It was to open in July, but problems emerged with its ventilation and drainage systems. The opening has been postponed indefinitely.

Unison Scotland’s health spokesman Tam Waterson, who represents 12,500 NHS staff in Edinburgh, said problems with the hospital’s ventilation system were secondary to its drainage problems.

“We know the drainage is not fit for purpose,” he said. “It’s been flooded twice with nobody in it.

“My understanding is that we will not know the full extent of the drainage issues until the hospital is working at full capacity. That is a major health and safety risk.

“My big concern is we open the hospital without doing all the checks, satisfying ourselves the drainage is fine, and we then have to close the hospital.”

He said there were even suggestions that the building might have to be demolished and blamed Ms Freeman for the situation.

“She is accountable. If things go wrong on her watch, then it is down to her,” he said.

Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet secretary for health Monica Lennon said: “We are learning more about the Edinburgh sick kids scandal by the day and now damning criticism of the Health Secretary from a leading trade unionist brings into question whether she can carry on.  

“It must be sickening for workers in our cash-strapped NHS to see millions going down the drain and no-one is taking responsibility.

“Ultimately, the buck stops with Jeane Freeman. A public inquiry must get under way.”