8 IN NHS FRAUD INQUIRY

SENIOR NHS staff have been charged amid a major fraud inquiry linked to multi-million pound health service contracts.

Six men and two women face allegations which include fraud, bribery and theft.

The eight include former IT and communications chiefs from health boards as well as directors of an Ayrshire telecoms company.

Last night, Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said that the total of 46 charges brought to court following a years-long investigation were ‘incredibly serious’.

She added: ‘Serious questions need to be asked of those involved, and if criminality is uncovered they must be appropriately punished.’

It was revealed in 2015 that NHS Counter Fraud investigators had raided the offices of Irvine-based company Oricom.

The accused appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in recent days.

No pleas were made and they await further examination.