The SNP's next walk-in GP clinics to open 'in a matter of weeks'
More locations are set to open across the country.
The SNP’s new walk-in GP surgeries will be open “in a matter of weeks”, according to First Minister John Swinney.
Earlier this month the Scottish Government opened the first of 16 planned walk-in GP clinics in Edinburgh. Ministers have now revealed details on where and when the next 12 are expected to open.
Two new centres, including one at the Lochee GP practice in Dundee and one in Benbecula, will open next month.
Three further clinics in Stranraer, Lerwick and Hawick will then open in April.
Centres are then expected to open in Invergordon and Aberdeen in May, and in Cardonald, Glasgow and Dunoon in June.
Three more clinics in Sauchie and locations in Moray and Aberdeenshire are also expected to open over the summer. A second phase could also see facilities open in East Ayrshire, Clydesdale, Lanarkshire and central Fife in late 2026/27.
This comes after Mr Swinney pledged to open these centres, which will be open from noon until 8pm seven days a week, at SNP conference last year. It is hoped the move will make it easier for people to access the GP, easing the 8am rush for an appointment and putting less pressure on A&E.
Mr Swinney visited the proposed new centre in Lerwick on Tuesday as part of his visit to the Shetland Islands.
He said: “With centres open 12pm-8pm, seven days a week, and based in easily-accessible locations in our communities across the country, this is part of a package addressing the 8am rush that has frustrated so many of us - easing capacity pressures on family doctors.
“By establishing a series of walk-in clinics we can ensure people are seen by a clinician at a time that works for them.
“Our programme will help us deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.”
He added: “With GP numbers up, long waits down and new walk-in GP clinics being tested across Scotland, it is clear we are making real progress in our NHS and I am determined to continue driving forward improvements.”
GPs say they remain sceptical about the proposals and how they will actually work in practice.
Dr Chris Provan, chair of the Royal College of GPs Scotland, said the idea was piloted in England in the early 2000s, and many of the sites have since closed or turned into urgent treatment centres.
He said: “Evaluations found little to no reduction in pressure on in-hours GP practices and highlighted that walk-in centres were more expensive to run, largely due to their reliance on locum staff.
“It is also important to recognise that walk-in centres face unpredictable fluctuations in demand.
“By contrast, core GPs fill every appointment and typically operate at full capacity each day - something walk-in services are unlikely to match.
“It is unclear how the pilot sites will deliver the Scottish Government’s commitment of one million appointments per year.
“Even if they did, this would represent only a marginal increase when set against the more than 700,000 direct patient contacts GPs provide every week.”
Dr Provan added the £36 million invested in the proposals should instead be redirected into core general practice, which he said will be “more beneficial for patients”.
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