Scottish hospitals told corridor care ‘unacceptable’ in new NHS plan

Constance added: “We will continue to evaluate how this plan is being implemented.

“Where services are performing well, we’ll support learning by spreading good practice.

“Where it falls short, we will provide support and, if necessary, take decisive action to improve outcomes for patients and communities.”

The health secretary’s announcement follows a difficult month for Scotland’s hospitals.

NHS Grampian suspended all planned paediatric surgery at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin after concerns about the quality and safety of care for children.

It followed an unannounced inspection by Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) in April.

Meanwhile, Dr Iain Kennedy, outgoing chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland, claimed that Scotland’s NHS was more focused on its reputation than patient safety.

He said clinicians who raised concerns often had their “characters challenged” and their careers had suffered.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: “Sadly there is a culture of cover-up, there’s a culture of trying to keep things hidden and to protect the reputation of health boards and ultimately to protect the government.”

And a scientist involved in the construction of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) claimed his safety concerns were ignored for 15 years in a late submission to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.