STAFF who process coronavirus tests at Glasgow’s Lighthouse Laboratory are missing out on the £500 bonus promised to healthcare staff, Scottish Labour has claimed today.

The lab at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital has been operational since April, processing thousands of tests per day.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said its staff were told that they cannot receive the £500 payment because they are not directly employed by the NHS.

Mr Leonard has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asking her to ensure that they receive the money, which she announced at SNP conference last month.

“As I am sure you will appreciate, hundreds of staff are working day and night in the fight against Covid-19,” his letter says.

“They are handling live samples from testing facilities across the country, including from care homes and home testing.

“They play a critical role in the fight to contain the virus in Scotland and as such their efforts are no less valuable than staff employed directly by the NHS in Scotland.”