Tories dismiss Swinney’s walk-in GP plans as ‘pre-election stunt’

First Minister John Swinney’s plans to set up a network of walk-in GP clinics across Scotland have been dismissed as “back of a fag packet stuff” and a “pre-election stunt” by the Tories.

Conservatives hit out at the proposals the day after the SNP leader announced details of the plan to his party conference in Aberdeen.

Mr Swinney insisted the new walk in clinics – to be open seven days a week between noon and 8pm – will help tackle the so-called “8am rush” for a GP appointment, which leaves some patients struggling to be seen by their family doctor.

Doctors’ leaders raised concerns about the proposals after Monday’s announcement by the First Minister.

And now Scottish Conservative health spokesperson Dr Sandesh Gulhane said he has written to the SNP leader “telling him that this typical SNP headline-chasing announcement will not be delivered and will do nothing to stop the rush for an 8am appointment”.

The Scottish Government plans to establish an initial network of 15 such centres across the country, to be staffed by doctors and nurses.

With the first expected to be opened within the next 12 months, the scheme could cost about £30 million for the first 15 centres, with no maximum number having been set for how many could be set up.

Mr Swinney pledged the Government would create a “nationwide network of walk-in GP services” which he said would “deliver over 1,000,000 additional GP and nurse appointments” a year.

In his conference speech, he insisted the move showed “the SNP Government working for Scotland”.

However, Dr Gulhane, who is a GP as well as a Tory MSP, hit and out said: “This latest policy from John Swinney to try and support GPs is nothing more than back of a fag packet stuff and a pre-election stunt.”

The Conservative added: “John Swinney has been at the heart of a rotten SNP Government who have failed GPs for 18 years. If this is such a good idea, why have they taken so long to do it?

“No wonder GPs like myself believe this will be the latest in a litany of broken promises made to us.

“I see first-hand the effects of the SNP’s mismanagement on GP services and what that is doing to overwhelmed colleagues and suffering patients.”

Dr Gulhane continued: “The SNP are completely detached from the reality facing staff and patients across Scotland’s NHS and have no real vision to fix the permanent crisis within the health service.

“On John Swinney’s watch, GPs are burnt out and feel abandoned and this policy will do nothing to help stem that tide.”

The comments came after Dr Iain Morrison, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish General Practitioners Committee, warned against shifting “essential resources” into “pilot schemes with limited potential”.

Dr Morrison argued that similar walk-in centres elsewhere in the UK had “not demonstrated good value for money”, insisting that cash must be “directed into core, essential services, such as general practice”.

Meanwhile, Dr Chris Provan, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said the plan “does not address the major barriers to good access – critical workforce shortages and unmanageable workload”.

Dr Provan said: “Who will staff these new services and their extended, weekend hours?

“How will continuity of care be preserved, when patients benefit enormously from knowing and trusting their regular GP?”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “These new walk-in clinics will bring positive benefits for people across Scotland and make it easier to access GP services at a time that suits people after work or on the weekends.

“We are seeing progress in reducing waiting lists, GP numbers are up and we have already increased investment in primary care by over £100 million, this should be welcomed. These new clinics will complement existing services and will not be a replacement for the care we already greatly value.”