Ms Gloag has donated millions to charity over the years

Transport tycoon Ann Gloag has offered the cash to a project which aims to ensure patients receive the standard of care they expect from nurses.

The project to improve compassionate care in nursing has been set up by Napier University and NHS Lothian.

Stagecoach founder Ms Gloag, a former nurse, and brother Brian Souter have an estimated combined fortune of �770m.

Ms Gloag revealed plans for the donation at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

She said the project was intended to ensure nurses were compassionate in all of their dealings with patients. Her donation would fund the initiative for the next three years.

Nurses have many more time pressures and responsibilities today than when I was a nurse Ann Gloag

Ms Gloag said: "Nurses have many more time pressures and responsibilities today than when I was a nurse and as a result, sometimes, the care a patient receives lacks the human touch that is so important."

She said supporters of the project hoped it would lead to improvements that could be rolled out across Scotland with backing from the Scottish Executive.

Officials have earmarked four "beacon wards" established in the NHS Lothian areas, with best practice encouraged and rolled out elsewhere.

There would be an online "mentoring" service and master-classes for students and graduates.

'Course materials'

Professor Joan Stringer, principal of Napier University, said: "We are extremely grateful to Ann Gloag for this generous gift.

"This project will ensure our students understand the central role compassionate person-centred care plays in their daily activities and will give them access to the most up-to-date and relevant course materials that take account of real-life scenarios in the delivery of such care."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Often it can be things which can seem insignificant which can make all the difference to the quality of care a patient receives.

"Through projects like this one we will help reinforce the importance of compassionate care and ensure every patient gets the quality of care they deserve while in hospital."

Ms Gloag, who lives on the 23-acre Kinfauns Castle estate in Perthshire, has previously donated several millions of pounds to charities tackling poverty and disease.