TRADE unions upped the pressure on the Scottish government to launch a public inquiry into Edinburgh’s unopened new “sick kids” hospital.

The state of the art facility was due to open this summer — but it was cancelled after unions raised a number of safety concerns.

Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced yesterday that the Royal Hospital for Sick Children will now not open until the autumn of 2020.

There will be an additional cost of more than £16 million, with a further £1.35m being paid out every month to remain at the existing site.

Unison health committee chairman Thomas Waterson said: “We need a public inquiry into this whole fiasco to find out who knew what and when.

“Even after the most recent KPMG report we still don’t know if the drainage system is fit for purpose.
 
“It was very frustrating for NHS Lothian health workers to have their move to the new hospital cancelled days before it was due to happen.

“Significant time and organisation goes into such a move. Now to be told that we need to wait until autumn 2020 to move is simply unacceptable.

“This fiasco shows the weakness of the Scottish government’s private finance system.”