New figures show that more than 7,000 consultations were held at
Scotland's first GP walk-in services.
The number of consultations at the centres increased to a
high of 2,299 in June as services were established, Public Health
Scotland data demonstrates.
The services are part of an innovative pilot, testing a new way
of accessing same-day care from GPs or Advanced Nurse
Practitioners at a wider range of times. They have been designed
to provide more choice for patients while helping to relieve
pressure on wider NHS services.
Between February and June GP walk-in pilot services were opened
in six locations.
Health Secretary said:
We have promised to end the frustrating 8 am rush for GP
appointments and this new data shows that more people are
benefiting from appointment-free care, at a time that works best
for them.
Some 7,082 walk-in consultations have already been carried out -
giving patients access to urgent, same-day care - and we will
roll this out to many more communities over the weeks and months
ahead.
Our focus is not simply on counting every patient, but on making
every patient count. The pilot is just getting started and as it
grows we will know more about how it is working.
But behind every attendance is a person who has received timely
assessment, reassurance, treatment or advice that may have
improved their experience, supported earlier intervention, or
prevented a more serious outcome.
We have opened ten of the originally planned 16 GP walk-in
services in five months and will soon be announcing even more
locations as the pilot expands.
Background
General practice walk-in centres
- month ending 30 June 2026 - General practice walk-in centres -
Publications - Public Health Scotland
The pilots are testing different approaches and models of care
designed by health boards and targeting specific population
needs. Most services are opening in a phased way so patient
safety is protected, but all will move to a seven-day
service.
Ten of the original 16 walk-in services have opened in the last
five months and locations for a further 14 bringing the total
planned to 30 will be announced by the Scottish Government soon.
Services included in the data:
- Stranraer in NHS Dumfries and Galloway
- Wester Hailes in NHS Lothian
- Benbecula in NHS Western Isles
Additional services now open:
- Aberdeen City in NHS Grampian
- Invergordon in NHS Highland
The data only covers the six centres open for the entire month of
June.
More information on walk-in services can be found
at Walk-in services | NHS
inform
