The additional funding is designed to provide nursing cover to improve extended hours service being implemented by some practices.

Announcing the funding from the 2008 NHS Scotland Event in Glasgow today, Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:

"Patients have told us that they need more flexibility in accessing GP appointments and we are working with GPs to deliver that. We know GPs don't work in isolation and nurses are a critical part of the care that practices provide.

"Since April, GP practices have been able to apply for extra funding to extend their opening hours to weekday evenings, early mornings or Saturday mornings. This extra £2.65m funding will further enhance this by investing in vital nursing support during those hours."

Robison also announced an extension of the services provided by Scotland’s community pharmacies to include provisions like smoking cessation and sexual health services. 

The new services have been agreed as part of an expansion to the Public Health Service, delivered through Scotland’s pharmacies, and form part of the 2008-2009 funding settlement of the Community Pharmacy Contract.    

Commenting on the extension of these services Robison said:

"Pharmacies are already a key provider of care and advice for Scots of all ages across the country, and that's going to be expanded even further.

"Working with community pharmacists, we are introducing a smoking cessation service and a sexual health service offering free chlamydia testing and treatment and free emergency contraception.

"Both of these will make an important contribution to improving the health of Scots. By making them part of the national Community Pharmacy Contract we ensure Scots around the country can benefit from an equally high standard of care."