A 24/7 children’s ward at St John’s hospital in Livingston could be five years away.

Recruitment difficulties mean even the current four-day model is “challenging” to operate, according to minutes of the group set up to consider restoring a round-the-clock service.

Opening hours at the children’s unit were reduced in 2017 because bosses could not find staff to cover evening and weekend shifts.

A pledged full reopening in October was delayed and children have to travel to Edinburgh’s Sick Kids hospital.

Documents released under freedom of information by the Scottish Conservatives reveal the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health told NHS Lothian officials moving back to a full service could take “three to -five years to achieve”.

Members of the programme board were told in August the hospital is “currently finding it challenging to open for four days” and any move to open 24/7 would be “ambitious”.

Scottish Conservative health spokesperson Miles Briggs said: “The SNP is failing sick children and their families right across the country.

“It’s bad enough that the flagship paediatric hospital in Edinburgh has been delayed for almost a decade on its watch, but now we learn there are major delays in West Lothian too.”

NHS Lothian medical director Dr Tracey Gillies said patient safety would always be the “overriding priority” in any decision to restore service.

“We have made encouraging progress in moving towards a safe and sustainable out-of-hours rota, but are continuing our enhanced efforts to recruit the required staff which will allow us to fully re-open 24/7.

“In the mean-time parents should not do anything differently and if they need access to healthcare should still contact their GP, out of hours services via NHS24 or go straight to the emergency department, if required.”