A drive to reduce pressures on the NHS this winter will aim to increase staffing and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

The Scottish Government has announced investment of £10m for the coming months, which will be used to help health boards, the ambulance service and NHS24 and includes £5m previously outlined in September.

The funding will focus on ensuring appropriate levels of staffing are in place across the health service so patients are cared for “at the right place,  at the right time and as close to home as possible”.

This includes those with long-term conditions and minor injuries, with better use of community pharmacies and more support to direct people to the most appropriate service to help them.

The funding will also help discharge patients over weekends and holidays where they are fit to go home.

Last month a report from spending watchdog Audit Scotland warned the NHS in Scotland faces a financial time bomb as pressures increase.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said it was important the health and social care system was well prepared for winter.

"Our £10m investment will support boards as well as health and social care to put appropriate steps in place - particularly to make sure people are discharged in a timely way when it's safe to do so, and that the right staff are in place throughout the system.

“However, this requires more than just investment – we need strong leadership and collaborative working across the whole system to ensure people are getting the right help in the right place.”

She added: “We are already seeing examples of integration making a difference and we are focused on increasing the pace of this across Scotland.”