SCOTTISH Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon accused Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP of failing the NHS today after a new report highlighted a potential £1.8 billion funding gap.

The report, from watchdog Audit Scotland, said that the NHS was “seriously struggling to become financially sustainable.”

It states that, without “system-wide reform,” projections show a £1.8bn shortfall by 2023.

Responding to the findings, Ms Lennon said: “This is a damning annual report.

“Health and social care services are on the brink of financial disaster and Nicola Sturgeon is cementing her legacy as the First Minister who failed the NHS.

“Instead of transforming health and social care to meet the complex needs of our ageing population, services face a £1.8bn black hole and that’s down to SNP mismanagement for the past 12 years.”

Prior to becoming party leader, Sturgeon served as Scotland’s health secretary from 2007-12.

“The First Minister can no longer hide from her record or the decisions she took [then],” said Ms Lennon.

Elsewhere in the report, findings showed a failure to meet six out of eight key waiting times standards and highlighted a £914 million maintenance backlog.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said that the SNP had proved itself to be “incapable of dealing with the day-to-day, let alone long-term reforms,” while Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs blamed “12 years of SNP distraction” and “relentless focus” on independence.

BMA Scotland chairman Dr Lewis Morrison said that the findings showed minor improvements, but “overall paint a stark picture of the parlous state of our NHS.”

He said: “If we want to continue to provide comprehensive, free at the point of delivery care for the people of Scotland, something must be done urgently.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said she welcomed the report, which noted the “positive steps” taken by the Scottish government while recognising challenges “such as increasing demand, building a sustainable workforce and the pace of change.”

She said: “To address this we have increased financial flexibility for NHS boards and our £850m waiting time improvement plan will help address financial challenges and improve access to care.

“Work to ensure people get access to health and social care services is also progressing but it needs to happen faster.”