NHS Ayrshire and Arran have been slammed for spending over £1.5m on leasing cars last year.

The figures were revealed following freedom of information requests as statistics showed that the NHS used 680 cars for staff, amid spending cuts.

The local health board were among the highest spenders in the figures, with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde footing the biggest bill, spending £3.4m on 2460 vehicles for staff, while Grampian spent over £1.1m.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "It is up to NHS boards to manage their own budgets and to nesure that frontline services are delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. Patient care is our priority and health boards, like all public bodies, are expected to get the very best value for money." John Wright, Director of Information and Clinical Support Services for the NHS, said: "Employees classified by NHS Ayrshire and Arran as essential car users are eligible for a lease car if their business travel is more than 3,500 miles a year.

"The cost to the organisation depends on the level of business mileage.

"NHS Ayrshire & Arran covers a large rural area and we have a responsibility to ensure that our staff working in these areas have roadworthy vehicles to allow them to do their jobs effectively and reach patients and premises in Ayrshire and Arran's communities." Full story in this week's Largs and Millport News.