Nicola Sturgeon says claims of delays in paediatric surgery are being investigated after the case of a nine-year-old who has had to wait months for an operation was raised at Holyrood.

Anas Sarwar said Harvey Martin, from Inverclyde, has had to wait months in “excruciating pain” for spinal surgery.

The Scottish Labour leader also raised concerns from paediatric surgeon Dr Chris Adams, who said up to a quarter of operations in NHS Lothian are cancelled due to staff shortages.

During First Minister’s Questions, Sarwar said nine-year-old Harvey suffers from neurofibromatosis, which causes tumours to grow on the nervous system.

Harvey was told in August last year that he needed urgent surgery to correct a curve in his spine.

Sarwar said: “Seven months on, he is still waiting. The curve is now harming his internal organs and he is left in excruciating pain.

“A nine-year-old in excruciating pain for seven months. This is a serious consequence of incompetence.”

Want to see more SNP fails? – Politics Matters