NICOLA Sturgeon has admitted Scotland faces a challenge in ensuring there are enough GPs in communities.

Ms Sturgeon said many GPs were due to retire soon and action was being taken to ensure they are replaced.

Speaking at Queen Margaret University in East Lothian she warned of the twin dangers of increasing demand on health from an ageing population and an ageing workforce with many reaching the end of their working lives.

She said: “We already know the next decade will present real challenges for us in recruiting GPs. “Many of our current GPs are due to retire and an increasing proportion will choose to work part-time.

"What we need to do is take action now to address that and that's why we've increased the number of GP training places from 300 a year to 400 and we're trying to encourage former GPs who have perhaps left the profession to care for children or elderly relatives to come back."

She said General Practice had to be an attractive proposition for new doctors and be able to compete with hospital based specialist posts

She said: "We've got to recognise the demographics of the profession as well as the increasing demand.

"That's why we're doing the increase in the places to get more GPs trained and into the system. Also within medical training there are steps afoot to encourage people to look at general practice as an option rather than necessarily going into another specialism."

The First Minister also announced a £1m fund for nursing and midwifery students experiencing hardship to help ensure enough staff are trained.

She also said £27m is available for training the right number of nurses and health professionals in the right areas.

She added: "That's why this additional funding of £27 million is so crucial in ensuring in ensuring the NHS in Scotland remains robust, resilient and ready for the challenges of the 21st century."

Nursing leaders welcomed the package of measures.

Theresa Fyffe, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland director, said: "The First Minister demonstrated an awareness of the crucial role that today's nurses play in delivering health services in hospitals and across our communities.

"The package of measures she announced will help to ensure that future generations benefit from the unique skills and knowledge that members of nursing teams bring to health services and to their patients."