More walk-in GP clinics coming ‘in weeks’, John Swinney pledges

New walk-in GP clinics to help improve care will be up and running “in a matter of weeks”, First Minister John Swinney has pledged.

With the first of 16 planned walk-in clinics opened earlier this month, the Scottish Government has announced details of when the next 12 should open.

Two new centres, one at the Lochee GP practice in Dundee and one in Benbecula in the Western Isles, are due to open in March.

Meanwhile, a further three clinics are due to open in April, in Stranraer in the south-west of Scotland, Lerwick in the Shetland Isles and Hawick in the Borders.

The centres will be open from noon till 8pm seven days a week and have been introduced in a bid to make it easier for people to see a GP.

Mr Swinney said they were “part of a package addressing the 8am rush” for GP appointments that he said had “frustrated so many of us”.

He made the comments as he visited the site of one of the planned new centres in Lerwick, with the First Minister stressing he was “pleased” that new facilities “will be up and running in a matter of weeks”.

The SNP leader added: “With centres open 12-8pm, 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.”

The introduction of the new walk-in centres “complements our £531 million landmark investment in core general practice”, Mr Swinney added.

He said: “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.”

Under the Scottish Government’s plans, walk-in GP clinics should also open in Invergordon in the Highlands and in Aberdeen in May, with further openings in June scheduled for Cardonald, Glasgow, and Dunoon.

Three more clinics, in Sauchie near Alloa and at yet to be revealed locations in Moray and Aberdeenshire should also open over the summer.

A second phase of clinics should also seen facilities open in East Ayrshire, Clydesdale in Lanarkshire and central Fife “late in 2026-27”.