A temporary hospital set up in Glasgow during the coronavirus pandemic will reportedly rack up a bill of £6million for laundry and security services. 

The sum for the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital includes a £2.4m contract for clean bedding and a £3.5m deal with security firm G4S, the Sunday Mail reports.

However, the prior contract is with an England-based firm Elis UK Ltd without going through a competitive tendering process. 

The provision of laundry and linen services has so far cost £92,988.

Glasgow Times:

NHS Louisa Jordan has yet to treat a Covid-19 patient but the Scottish Government emphasised the hospital was being used for a range of services including out-patient consultations and Covid vaccinations. 

READ MORE: Covid vaccinations to start for care home residents and staff from tomorrow

Scottish Labour's Monica Lennon told the Sunday Mail: "Huge sums have been spent building and running the Louisa Jordan and yet it hasn’t been used to treat any Covid-19 patients.

“Only a tiny fraction of its potential has ever been utilised and serious questions need to be answered about whether the public is getting value for money.

“Meanwhile, thousands of people have contracted Covid-19 in hospital and coronavirus patients continue to be discharged to care homes.

“Handing a £2.4million contract to a private company for laundry services will strike many as rank hypocrisy when you consider the SNP’s valid criticism of the Tories over creeping privatisation within the NHS.

“It’s yet another example of the Scottish Government’s failure to meet the challenges of the pandemic or live up to its own rhetoric. We’ve one of the worst Covid-19 death rates in the world and our economy has contracted more than many of our European partners.”

The construction cost of the hospital included a  £4.7million contract to Balfour Beatty,  £4.3million to Keir Construction, £6.9million to RMF Health Ltd and almost £1million to John Graham Construction Ltd.

More than £10 million was spent on equipment, and management costs total £2.4million a month.

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens co-leader, said:  “The whole point of the NHS Louisa Jordan is to support and provide additional capacity to NHS Scotland, not be a financial burden because of outsourced contracts.

“These bills show how private interests provide bad value for money in Scotland’s health service. If the Scottish Government is going to protect our public NHS it needs to reduce the amount it outsources to profiteers.”