NHS Tayside to invest nearly £40m on buildings by 2015

The multi-million pound investment was highlighted during the Health Secretary's visit to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee

Nearly £40m is to be invested by the NHS in Tayside over the next three years.

The money is to be spent on improving facilities across the area.

NHS Tayside has set aside £15.6m for capital project in the next financial year and expects to spend £12.m and £9.7 in the following two.

The area has already attracted significant investment, including £10.3m on a Nuclear Medicine Unit at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

The spending figures were highlighted as the Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon officially opened the new unit.

Significant investment

She said: "Having the right facilities, in the right place is important to people across Scotland and that is why we are determined to ensure both staff and patients the length and breadth of the country can work and be treated in the best possible surroundings.

"This significant investment in health building projects clearly sets out the strength of our commitment to the NHS in Scotland, and will mean that we can provide more sustainable, high quality and continually improving health care services close to home in Tayside and across the country."

NHS Tayside Chairman Sandy Watson said: "The new state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine Unit and mental health developments are already providing huge benefits for our patients and this further investment in facilities will help to ensure that we have a health service in Tayside which is fit for the 21st century."