Private consortium IHSL will benefit from increased repayments due to the extra works, though the size of the increase has not been disclosed, the BBC reports.

Documents from NHS Lothian show that the works, which largely consist of repairs to a flawed ventilation system, cost around £16 million in 2019 alone.

Staff and patients were due to move into the hospital in Little France in 2019 but were delayed last minute by health secretary Jeane Freeman after it was found that the ventilation system within the critical care department required further work to meet national standards.

A spokesperson for IHSL told the BBC: “There will be an increase in the maintenance costs which will be reflected in the unitary payment.”