By Marjory Inglis, health reporter

A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of the privately operated treatment centre at Stracathro Hospital, by Brechin, when the current contract runs out.

The Courier was given an ambiguous answer by a Scottish Government spokes-person yesterday when asked whether further central funding would be forthcoming after the remaining 18 months of the contract expires.

The arrangement that allows NHS patients from Tayside, Fife and Grampian to be treated in the private centre was set up when Labour was in power at Holyrood.

Under the controversial deal the Scottish Executive backed the three-year contract with £15 million of taxpayers cash.

However, following last year’s Scottish Parliament elections there were concerns that the Stracathro development would be allowed to “wither on the vine”, apparently in conflict with SNP principles backing public rather than private provision of health services.

Though she did not specifically refer to Stracathro, health secretary Nicola Sturgeon made a speech last year when she rejected any more taxpayer-funded expansion of the private sector.

At that time The Courier asked if the Scottish Government would give a commitment to the future of the centre at Stracathro, but was given a general answer on SNP policy.

After a report at the weekend suggesting Ms Sturgeon was not likely to commit further taxpayers’ money, The Courier again asked for a definite answer on whether more cash would be forthcoming at the end of the contract.

A statement issued last night pointed to the health service being publicly funded in future but avoided making a definitive statement on the long-term future of the Stracathro centre.

A Scottish Government spokesman said, “The cabinet secretary for health and wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, has made clear that she is committed to a mutual NHS Scotland firmly rooted in the public sector.

“The private sector contract for the Stracathro Regional Treatment Centre is between NHS Tayside and Netcare and still has more than a year to run and it would be inappropriate to make any comment on its future before a full evaluation report has been completed.”

For several weeks The Courier has asked to see a report on the first year of activity at the independent treatment centre.

After the most recent request, made last week, NHS Tayside’s chief operating officer Gerry Marr said that the document is due to be placed before members of NHS Tayside’s board at the end of this month when the review will be considered in public.

Following the weekend report, Mr Marr declined to comment on the long-term future of the centre,

“The contract is for three years and I fully expect the contract will run for its duration,” he said.