Nicola Sturgeon has outlined steps being taken to ensure that patients are no longer part of "hidden waiting lists" in a system that will replace Availability Status Codes by the end of the year.

The cabinet minister for health and wellbeing assured the Scottish parliament of the development of a more patient-focused service that will take a pro-active stance with regard to transparency and accountability to the public.

Ms Sturgeon said that consumers have lived with the consequences of hidden waiting lists for too long and deserve a better system which makes it clear what patients can expect from health boards.

"I want to see a fair, open and more consistent approach across Scotland, ensuring that no patient will be placed outside waiting times guarantees and that long, unexplained waits come to an end," she added.

She concluded by stating that she has invited the auditor general for Scotland to conduct a review of how the NHS applies the new approach.

It was recently reported in the Scotsman that health secretary Alan Johnson has called for an investigation into the idea of an opt-out system regarding human organ donation.