NHS Tayside face probe over use of charity funds

NHS Tayside's use of money from a charitable trust is form part of a investigation into its finances, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

An investigation by the Herald newspaper suggested the health board used funds from a charitable trust to pay for core services such as IT in 2014, something forbidden under the charity's rules. 

NHS Tayside has denied the money was used in this way.

The health board's finances has already been highlighted by spending watchdog Audit Scotland and is being investigated by the Scottish parliament's Public Audit Committee.

Subsequent shortfalls have meant the board has relied on brokerage loans from the Scottish Government to continue to provide its core services. Its finance director has taken early retirement.

The Scottish Government said the allegations will also form part of an existing external review.

Opposition MSPs have called for Health secretary Shona Robison to intervene.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "Details of NHS Tayside's retrospective use of endowment funding will form part of the externally-led review of the governance of NHS Tayside finances and we expect the board to consider their findings carefully and comply fully with any recommendations.

"NHS Scotland endowment funds operate within legal frameworks regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Scottish government expects trustees to comply with the requirements of the legislation."