NICOLA Sturgeon said she has been told claims nurses in Glasgow are being asked to do 24-hour shifts are “not true”.

The First Minister was responding to claims that nurses at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow were asked to work double shifts of 24 hours to deal with staffing problems.

Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader, said it was “disgraceful and harmful to patients”.

Sturgeon however said she was assured by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the claims were “not true”.

READ MORE: Families HIT out over staff shortages at Glasgow hospital

She said she has been informed there is “absolutely no truth in these claims".

The First Minister added: “I would not expect any health board request any member of staff to do that.”

At First Minister's Questions, Ross raised NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde cancelling all non-urgent operations to focus on dealing with A&E cases.

Sturgeon said hospitals across the UK are resorting to cancelling operations as she was challenged by the Tory leader to sack her health secretary, Humza Yousaf.

She added hospitals and health boards were “struggling” across the UK and recited a list of health boards in England where temporary measures had been put in place.

Sturgeon said the NHS was facing extraordinary pressures from Covid, flu, Strep A and winter pressures but that the Scottish Government was committed to putting in place measures to support staff.

READ MORE: Council wants government cash for thousands of new homes in Glasgow

She said "it is not the fault of Humza Yousaf” that similar action to Greater Glasgow and Clyde was being taken in “London, Surrey, Derby, Leicester and Southampton”.

Ross accused the First Minister of “patient blaming” language by saying ‘unnecessary attendances’ at A&E were adding to the problem and also said "it’s time to sack Humza Yousaf".

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, told the First Minister it was not “Covid, flu or winter pressures” that is causing the problems but, he said, “this is 15 years in the making”.

The First Minister dismissed his claims and said action was being taken.

She added: “Yes, there were pre-existing challenges and we are taking action to address those.”

 She said funding and staff numbers were higher than in the rest of the UK.

She added: “There are, right now, 1200 patients with Covid in our hospitals.

“Anyone who says that is not having an impact is, frankly, not dealing in reality.”