The introduction of the extra aircraft will provide a 24-hour paramedic service for remote and rural communities.

The £750,000 investment will allow the charter of two new helicopters specifically designed for patient transport, based in Glasgow and Inverness. They will come on stream next year.

More paramedics will be brought in to increase coverage from 10 hours to 24 hours a day.

The new helicopters will also be able to fly at night and in bad weather, a service currently provided by the Ministry of Defence and the Coastguard.

Nearly 2,500 missions are carried out each year transporting patients to hospital by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. Most are either emergency or urgent cases.

Health Minister Sam Galbraith said: "The air ambulance service is a critical link between our rural communities and the network of hospitals which serve them.

"This additional money will strengthen that link and allow the ambulance service to upgrade its helicopter service to offer 24-hour, paramedic-led cover."

The extra money would buy more flying time, more trained staff and greater comfort for patients.

The Scottish Office is also looking at sponsoring a new way of working for their clinicians which includes working together rather than practising in isolation.