Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar announced on Thursday how the additional money found from the government's comprehensive spending review would affect Scotland over the next three years.

He said he wanted waiting lists to be cut to 75,000 or less by the end of the Parliament. He also wants more investment in emergency treatment and fast-track reforms to make the NHS the most modern health service in Europe.

One-stop clinics

Mr Dewar said �40m would go to create Scotland's first 'walk-in walk-out' treatment centre in Glasgow. It will ensure same-day diagnosis and treatment for common conditions such as cataracts, varicose veins and hernias.

Donald Dewar: money for modernisation and waiting list cuts

Another �1m will go towards streamlining other services. This includes funding for one-stop clinics in South Ayrshire and Edinburgh's Western General Hospital.

Hospitals will get an extra �300m next year to cut waiting lists. Some �24m will be set aside for the new Primary Care Trusts which start next year.

The money will be used to provide the premises and equipment they need. And there will be a 14.7 per cent increase in capital funding for new hospital buildings and refurbishment.

The Scottish Office will also create a national standards group which will ensure service is improved across the country.

Modernisation

Scottish health minister Sam Galbraith said the government's aim was to tackle the causes of poor health as well as to modernise the NHS.

"We want to make a difference for thousands of patients who face serious discomfort although their lives are not at risk. We can increase the number of operations to meet patietn demands and develop more convenient ways of treating them," he said.

Donald Dewar said the cash injection would mean around �1,000 would be spent a year on healthcare for everyone in Scotland.