NHS spending on spin doctors has ballooned since the pandemic, new figures reveal.
Statistics gathered by Scottish Labour show health chiefs spent at least £6.9m on communications officers last year - up 27 per cent from £5.42m in 2020/21.
But the total is likely to be even higher as many regional boards didn't respond, despite the number of staff at their disposal.
The data comes as it emerged that some GP surgeries are so cash-strapped that staff are now working out of storage cupboards.
Last night, Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: 'At a time when our NHS is lurching from crisis to crisis, this SNP government has allowed millions to be squandered on trying to hide its failures rather than ensuring that patients get treated.
'With nearly one in six Scots on an NHS waiting list, the SNP should get a grip and swap the spin doctors for the real kind.'
'A Scottish Labour government will focus on delivery not hot air by making cutting waiting times and clearing the NHS backlog our day-one priority.'
The latest data, retrieved under Freedom of Information laws, shows a record £6.9m was spent on communications staff, including £991,708 at NHS National Services Scotland, which provides support to surgeries and hospitals.
Non-emergency hotline NHS 24 splashed out £756,785 and Greater Glasgow & Clyde £603,507.
However, the total bill will be higher still because Forth Valley, Grampian, Western Isles and Orkney were among those who failed to provide data.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the NHS lurches 'from crisis to crisis'
Meanwhile, the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland has lifted the lid on the crisis in dilapidated surgeries across the country.
In a letter to Holyrood's Public Audit Committee, chairman Dr Chris Provan writes: 'Teams are often fragmented across multiple sites or confined to unsuitable spaces, with physical barriers impeding collaboration, information-sharing, and patient flow.
'This not only increases risk but also drives inefficiency.
One notable example of an attempt to maximise existing space is the back-scanning of paper notes to fit staff into areas previously used as cupboards.
'The current state of play is adversely affecting efforts to improve GP recruitment and retention [and] risks the loss of public confidence in general practice.'
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: 'This is a damning indictment of the SNP's mismanagement of our health service.
'As patient demand continues to grow GP practices must have the facilities they need. It is time for the SNP to slash pointless bureaucracy and divert resources to primary care.'
And there could be further trouble in store given Dr Gulhane previously warned the 'permanent crisis' in Scotland's accident and emergency departments could lead the NHS to 'collapse' this winter.
The experienced medic sounded the alarm earlier this month after Public Health Scotland data revealed a third of patients at A&E were not seen and admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours - substantially below the government's target of 95 per cent being dealt with.
The figures showed the four-hour target was missed for 8,839 of the 26,805 people who went to an emergency department in the week ending August 3.
Of those not seen within the target time, 2,635 - 9.8 per cent of patients - were there for eight hours or more, with a further 977 - the equivalent of 3.6 per cent - enduring the longest waits of 12 hours or more.
Blasting the figures, Dr Gulhane had said: 'Unless urgent action is taken, our NHS will collapse as we enter the winter months.'
The Scottish Government said communications officers help organise important public health campaigns and allow for scrutiny of the NHS.
A spokesman said: 'Effective communication to help people understand policies and access public services, or to prompt behaviour change and promote better health, is a key part of government work.
'Scottish Government funding of health and social care is at a record level and we are investing £21.7 billion through our 2025-26 budget.'