Plans to build a nationwide network of trauma centres have been delayed by at least three years.

Teams of experts specialising in treating major injuries were expected to be created at hospitals in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee by the end of 2016.

However, the proposal was temporarily shelved after experts questioned the need for trauma centres outside central Scotland.

The Scottish Government later committed to creating teams in all four cities but admitted on Wednesday that it will be at least three years until they are ready.

The government also announced £5m of extra funding for the project, which may not be complete until the early 2020s.

It will focus on enhancing treatment at infirmaries rather than building new infrastructure.

Speaking at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on Wednesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Scotland's NHS already provides a fantastic service to the thousands of patients who experience a serious of major injury every year.

"But we want to go further. The Scottish Trauma Network will connect and coordinate clinical teams across the country, giving patients - especially those with major trauma - access to better care and rehabilitation support."

"It is estimated that this approach could save up to 40 more lives a year."

She added: "Given the scale and complexity of the changes required to deliver the network, we should need to recognise it will take at least three years to fully implement it.

"We are allocating an extra £5m in 2017/18 to begin accelerating the improvements and we will be putting further, significant investment in as we continue to build and fully establish the network over the next few years."

Fears had been raised that only creating trauma centres in the central belt would drain resources from Aberdeen and Dundee, prompting fifty senior north east medics to sign an open letter stating their concerns.