SCOTLAND'S hospitals are to get more consultants through a £3 million government investment.
The money will be provided over three years as part of a plan to change the way unscheduled care is delivered in the NHS.
It will fund around 14 full time positions and four partial posts – working out to be around £187,500 per full time job.
The Scottish Government said it expects health boards to fund the difference to create 18 full-time consultant roles.
Three positions are to be created in Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals, two each in Ayrshire and the NHS Lothian area, but there will be no new consultants in the Western Isles or Orkney.
Recruitment is to start immediately.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "This is a significant investment and is testimony to how seriously we are taking the work to improve services for our patients."
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