Health boards across the north and north-east have been given millions of pounds in extra funding to meet patient demand over the winter months.
NHS Grampian was awarded £761,848 to take forward so-called Unscheduled Care Action Plans (Ucap) and £456,000 to tackle bed blocking.
Recent figures show Aberdeen is lagging badly behind other council areas in Grampian in addressing the problem of delayed discharges in hospitals due to care packages provided by the local authority not being in place.
An NHS Grampian spokesman said the money would be directed towards increasing hospital and community capacity in order to improve patient flow.
“The money will fund specific initiatives such as additional patient transport at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray’s in Elgin, a discharge lounge, and increased rehabilitation capacity,” he added.
“The aim is to improve flow through the hospitals so that patients are not slowed down during their journey.
“The funding will also help develop ‘surge’ capacity so that in the event of increased pressure on services during the winter, additional ward space can, if necessary, be opened up.”
The spokesman said the money would also be used to fund the “Know Who To Turn To” campaign to ensure people use the most appropriate NHS service.
NHS Highland received £506,572 for Ucap and £307,500 to tackle delayed discharges.
A health board spokeswoman said the delayed discharges funding would enable it to explore alternatives to hospital care such as night sitting services and so-called “step up and step down beds” in care homes.
“It will also enable us to strengthen community support enabling people to return to a homely setting as soon as they are able to do so,” she added.
A total of £37,991 in Ucap funding and £20,500 to tackle delayed discharges has been allocated to NHS Orkney.
NHS Shetland has been given £37,511 in Ucap funding and £20,500 to resolve bed blocking while the health board in the Western Isles has been awarded £54,526 in Ucap funding and £32,000 to help ease delayed discharges.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Improving A&E waiting times and patient flow through hospital as well as tackling delayed discharge is key to ensuring the NHS is ready for winter.”