General practice in Scotland is to get half a billion pounds extra a year, it has been announced.

The Scottish government says it intends to meet demands of GP leaders to ensure that 11% of the NHS budget goes to primary care.

It has planned to increase NHS spending by £2 billion by 2021 and a quarter of this is to go to general practice.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It means, for the first time ever, that half of the health budget will be spent, not in acute hospitals, but in the community – delivering primary, community and social care.”

The British Medical Association said the news was “hugely encouraging.”

BMA Scottish committee GP chair Dr Alan McDevitt said it would help ensure a “step change” in primary care when a new contract is negotiated in Scotland.

He said: “And it means, for the first time ever, that half of the health budget will be spent, not in acute hospitals, but in the community – delivering primary, community and social care.”