The money for the 15 boards will help with NHS changes

Greater Glasgow and Lothian boards will take the biggest share.

Mr Chisholm said the NHS was entering "a momentous year", with the planned abolition of health trusts and the introduction of new GP contracts.

He said the money would help Scotland's 15 health boards to deal with the changes in the pipeline.

The minister said: "I recognise that the challenges of reform are placing extra financial burdens on health boards.

"I have asked the health department to identify savings at the centre so that we can give front line services additional support.

FUNDING BREAKDOWN Argyll and Clyde - �2.596m Ayrshire and Arran - �2.331m Borders - �676,000 Dumfries and Galloway - �973,000 Fife - �2.015m Forth Valley - �1.585m Grampian - �2.725m Greater Glasgow - �5.548m Highland - �1.390m Lanarkshire - �3.206m Lothian - �4.054m Orkney - �126,000 Shetland - �136,000 Tayside - �2.401m Western Isles - �238,000

"We are already investing record sums in the health service. That is entirely right. Modern health care is expensive.

"But it is equally right that we ensure taxpayers' money is spent on improving patient care, not propping up old systems which don't serve patients well.

"We want a can-do NHS which is more responsive to patients' needs and that is what the whole reform agenda is about."

Greater Glasgow Health Board will receive around �5.5m of the extra money while Lothian Health Board will receive just over �4m.