NHS staff who help detect cancer at its earliest stages are being recruited from India, Australia and the US as board struggle to plug job vacancies.

Nine health boards including Glasgow have launched a recruitment drive to help fill 32 vacancies for radiologists.

Cancer charity Macmillan welcomed the move, saying "immediate action" was required to tackle rising patient numbers and unmet waiting times targets.

NHS Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway, Forth Valley, Fife, Grampian, Highland and Tayside are advertising for staff in Western Europe, India, Australia, the USA and Canada.

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) welcomed what it described as a "much-needed international drive to boost radiologist numbers".

The recruitment drive would increase the number of consultant grade radiologists in post by 10%.

Janice Preston, Head of Service for Macmillan, said: “Radiologists are the vital cog in diagnosing people as early as possible.

"With waiting times having not been met since 2012 and the number of cancer patients constantly increasing, it is welcoming to see this recruitment drive take place.

“While the Scottish Government has made recent moves to address the number of qualified radiologists in Scotland through extra funding, it is good to see they have recognised that additional immediate action is also needed.”

Health boards are also investing £4 million in a Radiology Transformation Programme to improve patient services, alongside increased specialist radiology training places.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "This recruitment campaign alongside the £4 million Radiology Transformation Programme already underway, underlines our commitment to ensure that NHS Scotland retains world-class radiology services.

"The campaign highlights the benefits of living in Scotland and working for our NHS, and it demonstrates our commitment to a vibrant, dynamic and outward-looking health service, staffed by some of the very best clinicians from around the world.

"We are determined to recruit and retain the best and the brightest in order to deliver sustainable health services for the people of Scotland."

Dr Grant Baxter, Scotland lead at RCR, said: "The RCR fully supports this much-needed international drive to boost radiologist numbers.

"We look forward to welcoming and supporting overseas radiologists looking for an exciting new challenge in Scotland."