NICOLA STURGEON moved quickly today to reassure the public about potential capacity issues within the NHS after being quizzed by opposition MSPs. 

During First Minister’s Questions, the SNP leader told Holyrood that hospitals were under “intense pressure” but continue to cope.

Concerns were raised by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard about the emotional toll the pandemic continues to take on health workers, citing figures showing that a third of NHS absences during the first wave of Covid-19 were caused by stress and poor mental health.