SCOTTISH Health Secretary Jeane Freeman called for additional checks on drainage at Edinburgh’s delayed children’s hospital today as Labour has continued to demand a public inquiry into the scandal.

The new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People was due to open last month but this was halted after concerns were raised over its ventilation system.

Today’s Morning Star reported that Unison Scotland had raised the alarm over a “major health and safety risk” in the £150 million hospital’s drainage.

The union’s health sector official Tam Waterson said the hospital might have to be closed if it opened without necessary checks, or could even be knocked down.

Ms Freeman told BBC Radio Scotland today: “I have asked for a number of other critical areas of the existing new hospital site to be double-checked to make sure they are compliant with all standards, and that will include drainage.”

She claimed “the issue has been resolved” but said she had asked for extra checks “so I can be sure that every aspect of that hospital [is] compliant with the relevant standards.”

NHS Lothian is handing over around £1.4 million a month to hospital developers Integrated Health Solutions Lothian despite the fact that the hospital is not yet operational.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “There is an urgent need for Jeane Freeman to rebuild confidence in our precious NHS, both with staff and the wider public.

“That can only happen with a transparent investigation into how this scandal has been allowed to develop.

“There is a willingness across political parties to work together to uncover what has gone wrong and how to rectify it and the Health Secretary should accept that offer and begin an independent public inquiry.”