NICOLA Sturgeon faced a grilling on an Audit Scotland report into the health service that stated the same concerns over funding and performance as ten years ago.

Ruth Davidson said the NHS was “in crisis” and there was “no evidence of a long term plan”.

The Tory leader said ten years on Audit Scotland was still reporting missed waiting time targets and lack of planning.

She said: “How many reports will be published before action is taken?”

Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the report was a “grim diagnosis”

She said: “Funding is not keeping pace with increasing demand and patient need. Only one of eight key targets has been met. A workforce crisis that has been brewing for years is getting worse.

Ms Sturgeon said:“As First Minister, I accept full responsibility for what happens in the health service. I also accept responsibility for the fact that the health service budget is £3 billion higher than it was when we took office, for the fact that there are 11,000 more staff working in our health service than there were when we took office and for the fact that, whether we look at in-patient waiting times or out-patient waiting times, those times are lower today than they were when the Government took office.

“I accept responsibility for all that and more.”