Jane Hutt said the cash is "good news" for patients in Wales

The money will be divided out across Wales for new buildings and equipment and to attempt to cut waiting times.

Mid and West Wales NHS services will be given �8m, south east Wales will get �11m and �5.2m will go to north Wales.

The announcement comes a week after Plaid Cymru revealed it was tabling a motion of no confidence in the assembly Government's handling of health.

But, in response, the assembly government accused Plaid of "sheer political opportunism" and Welsh Labour described the move as a "pathetic, personal and childish" attack on Jane Hutt.

Monday's announcement sees money for new day case centres in Swansea, Ceredigion, North East Wales and Conwy and Denbighshire.

A figure of �2.5m has been allocated specifically for specialist equipment in cardiac care, and a further �1.5m in orthopaedics.

Day case centres are included in the funding

There is �3.6m for new ambulances and �80,000 to provide more heart defibrillators across the country.

Ms Hutt said: "This �30m is all about improving services for patients.

"I want patients in Wales to be receiving the most efficient service possible and by investing in new equipment and buildings we can make this happen.

"The funding being announced will make a huge difference to patients in Wales and will meet the needs of the health trusts across Wales.

"Access to more and better diagnostic equipment will help speed up the time patients are waiting to receive diagnosis and, by investing in the four new day case centres, the length of time people are waiting for their day case treatment will improve significantly."

Ms Hutt described the money as "good news for patients in Wales".

"It shows our clear commitment to improving services and access to the NHS. There has already been record investment in the health service since the assembly began," she added.

'In trouble'

The Welsh Tories welcomed extra spending on the health service is to be welcomed, but criticised Ms Hutt's policies.

Little pockets of good news can't hide the bigger picture Liberal Democrat spokesperson

"Money isn't the issue - it's the political direction that is causing the damage," said the party's assembly health spokesman Jonathan Morgan.

"Spending money is not an achievement. Reducing waiting lists is an achievement, but she has failed to do this."

Plaid's assembly spokesman on health Rhodri Glyn Thomas said "the minister's record in how she spends money has historically left a lot to be desired".

"The announcement does not diminish our resolve to table a motion of no confidence in the Labour assembly government's health policy."

A Lib Dem spokesperson also said the cash was welcome, but said Ms Hutt was "in trouble".

"Little pockets of good news can't hide the bigger picture," said the spokesperson.