POLITICIANS have slammed Glasgow's health board after it emerged that £100,000 was spent re-branding the new hospital with a Royal title.

Figures show NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spent £51,000 on three plaques commemorating the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The Queen's visit to officially open the hospital cost the board £29,000 with catering costs coming in at £18, 836.

The board also forked out more than £1500 for new signs.

NHSGGC said the Royal title was chosen to honour the Queen's attendance, officially opening the building.

However the Scottish Greens - who obtained the figures through Freedom of Information laws - described the associated costs as a "ridiculous waste."

Ross Greer, Scottish Green MSP candidate for West of Scotland, said: "Its not hard to think of a few dozen ways to better spend 100,000 of NHS funds.

"Serious questions need to be asked as to how far in advance it was known that the hospital may be renamed and rebranded and whether this ridiculous waste could have been avoided.

"I don't think anyone could seriously argue that 51,000 on new plaques was an unavoidable and necessary spend.

"Aside from the cost itself it really does beggar belief that such an amazing new facility could not have been named after one of the many notable figures Scotland has contributed to the field of medicine."

The board said five other titles were considered, all of which contained the words, Queen Elizabeth. Other options including incorporating the Royal title into the children's hospital.

In a statement NHSGGC said: "The vast majority of our staff and patients were delighted that The Queen officially opened our new healthcare facilities which will benefit not only the people of Glasgow but the people of Scotland.

"We were also very pleased to be given a new Royal title for this magnificent new building.

"It should be pointed out that whether the hospitals was given a Royal name or not there would still have been an official opening ceremony, we would still have created commemorative plaques and would have certainly marked the opening of such fine buildings with a special lunch for staff and patients.

"These aspects all form part of the costs that we have published on our website."