THE SNP Scottish government stands accused of mounting a cover-up to “save face” as the rollout of its national treatment centres (NTC) scheme falters.

Ten treatment centres were planned to be delivered by 2026 as part of a flagship policy by then first minister Humza Yousaf that sought to take 100,000 patients off the 840,000 languishing on Scottish NHS waiting lists over the following three years.

Concerns began to grow earlier this year after an unnamed Labour MSP heard from a constituent that health officials had told them their local project could be delayed by as much as two years.