Nicola Sturgeon faced a two-pronged attack from opposition leaders over delays to the roll-out of Scotland’s trauma centre network.
The Ninewells facility in Dundee was supposed to be up-and-running as part of a nexus of four regional centres by the end of last year.
But the SNP was leader was forced to defend a three-year delay to completion during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservatives leader, said patients have been let down by Wednesday’s announcement that they will have to wait until at least 2020 for the new network.
“The First Minister admitted that they would be at least three years late and the only explanation offered was scale and complexity,” she said.
“Communities have been expecting these centres for two years and they are now being told to wait at least another three.
“I think they deserve a fuller explanation and so does this Parliament.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “The SNP’s three-year delay could cost lives.”
Ms Sturgeon said they are taking the time to “make sure we are getting it right” and are releasing an extra £5m to speed up the process.
She said: “These improvements are underway already. Aberdeen already delivers life-saving trauma care, the improvements that are taking place will enhance what it does, enhance what Dundee does, and Glasgow and Edinburgh.
“But crucially make sure that they work together in that network with the appropriate support of the Scottish Ambulance Service. These are the right changes.”
Four major trauma centres will be established in Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh to treat an estimated 6,000 of Scotland’s seriously injured patients every year.
Doctors have estimated the changes could save 40 lives a year.
Health Secretary Shona Robison, who is also the Dundee East MSP, said the national network will take at least three years but “the vast bulk” of improvements to the Dundee and Aberdeen facilities will be completed in the next 18 months.
