Work on Edinburghs leading hospital, the Royal Infirmary has apparently been consuming a large quantity of cash to feed consultants fees.

Given the fact tens if not hundreds of millions have been squandered in 'management fees' in the NHS trusts so far, this latest revelation is quite sickening - especially as Scottish doctors are still strapped for cash.

Leading the condemnation, the SNP's parliamentary health spokeswoman Margaret Ewing said: "After Tony Blair's rhetoric about cutting bureaucracy in the health service and spending every penny wisely, the fact that £3.5m is being spent on consultants' fees for a private finance initiative project is outrageous."