A special taskforce has been established to try and reduce the number of people needlessly languishing in hospital.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said the NHS and local authorities, via umbrella group Cosla, had teamed up to try and tackle delayed discharges which are linked to the lack of availability of care in the community.
Official figures showed that in July this year 32 patients in NHS Highland hospitals were forced to wait more than four weeks after they were ready to be sent home.
This compared to 11 in April, 21 in July last year and 10 in July 2012.
The figures for July 2014 showed that 47 people were stuck in NHS Grampian hospitals for more then four weeks in comparison to 45 in April.
A total of 17 people were languishing in wards in July last year and 16 in July 2012.
The figures for July 2014 showed that 274 patients in Scotland were forced to wait more than four weeks in comparison to 173 in April, 118 in July last year and 164 in July 2012.
The Scottish Government has urged health boards to use a share of £5million in funding to address the reasons behind bed blocking.
The announcement comes days after it emerged that Highland woman Debbie Michie, who has been forced to stay in hospital for almost a year, is unable to leave due to an infection.
The 61-year-old, who had her leg amputated last September, was hoping to leave Ian Charles Hospital at Grantown this week after plans were put in place for staff to visit her four times a day at her home in Nethy Bridge.
A shortage of specialist care staff resulted in Mrs Michie being trapped in hospital for so long.
Mr Neil said three times as many people were stuck in Scottish hospitals for a month or more in 2006 but admitted the figures were still too high.
“Cosla and I are agreed that we need immediate improvements and NHS boards and local authorities recognise the need to work together now to make sure people do not have to wait in hospital any longer than is necessary,” he added.
“We recently announced an additional £5million to be targeted at the areas with the greatest challenges,” he added.
“This money will be used by seven NHS and local authority partnerships to reduce delays and release hospital capacity.”