According to a recent revelation, NHS shelled out a total of £4m on hospitality for staff and visitors in the previous three years.

Figures that were revealed by Labour under freedom of information laws confirm that the cost of hospitality has gone up by almost 25 percent in the last three years from £1,076,044 in 2007-08 to £1,332,501 in 2009-10.

This amount was sufficient to pay 50 nurses which have now been spent on the NHS entertainment.

Following this the ministers were requested to come into the picture and divert important funds which are exhausted on refreshments toward preventing around 1,500 nursing and midwife posts that are presently under a threat of being removed.

The Scottish Government officials, however, emphasized that the provision of snacks and drinks is only for a ‘tiny fraction’ of NHS spending and the complete amount is equal to that which was spent earlier during the days of the Labour and the Lib Dems.

Reacting on the figures spent by the NHS Shadow Health Secretary Dr Richard Simpson MSP said: “I am astonished that Scottish health boards have spent nearly £4million over the last three years on hospitality.”