Scottish doctors' views about whether services should be concentrated into bigger hospitals vary according to the type of hospital they work in and where they are based.

A random survey of 730 career-grade doctors found those working in general acute hospitals were less willing than their colleagues in major teaching hospitals to support centralising services.

Doctors in areas of Scotland geographically distant from the central belt believed even less that concentration of services would benefit their patients.

But all respondents supported the district general hospital as a continuing feature of the Scottish NHS.

The survey forms part of a submission by the British Medical Association's Scottish committee for hospital medical services to the acute services review in Scotland being led by the country's chief medical officer, Sir David Carter.

Among key messages in the report, due to be published tomorrow, are that different models of hospital configuration are likely to be required across the country.

The Acute Services Review: submission by the SCHMS to the steering group of the acute services review chaired by the CMO for Scotland. Available from the BMA: 0131-662 4820. Free.