New GP Walk-In Clinics Announced to Ease Appointment Pressures
Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, has announced the locations of 15 new walk-in GP clinics aimed at alleviating pressures on family doctors and addressing the so-called "8am rush" for appointments.
The first walk-in centre opened in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, on 11 February, with an additional 12 clinics scheduled to open by the end of summer.
However, some GPs have expressed doubts about whether these new facilities will significantly impact appointment pressures or represent the best use of healthcare resources.
The new centres will operate seven days a week, primarily between 12:00 and 20:00.
Two further walk-in services are planned to open in March: one in Lochee, Dundee, and another on the isle of Benbecula, both operating from 09:00 to 17:30.
Additional clinics will open in Lerwick, Stranraer, and Hawick in April.
Between May and the end of summer, seven more walk-in clinics are expected to launch in Invergordon, Aberdeen, Cardonald in Glasgow, Dunoon, Moray, Aberdeenshire, and Sauchie in Clackmannanshire.
Phase two of the programme, planned for completion by 2027, will establish walk-in centres in high street or former retail sites located in East Ayrshire, Clydesdale, and central Fife.
Swinney initially revealed plans for the new clinics during his speech at the SNP conference in October of the previous year.
The Royal College of General Practitioners has raised concerns about the effectiveness of walk-in centres, questioning their potential impact and whether they are the optimal allocation of resources.
The First Minister stated that the centres should provide over a million additional GP and nurse appointments.
These units will offer assessment and treatment for patients with urgent but non-emergency medical issues, where same-day consultation is necessary but hospital care is not required.
During a visit to one of the sites in Lerwick, Swinney expressed satisfaction that many centres would be operational within weeks.
"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."
Locations and Opening Dates for New Walk-In Clinics
The planned opening timeline for the GP walk-in centres is as follows:
- February: Wester Hailes, Edinburgh (opened 11 February)
- March: Lochee, Dundee and isle of Benbecula (09:00 to 17:30)
- April: Lerwick, Stranraer, Hawick
- May to end of summer: Invergordon, Aberdeen, Cardonald (Glasgow), Dunoon, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Sauchie (Clackmannanshire)
- By 2027 (Phase two): East Ayrshire, Clydesdale, central Fife
NHS Waiting Times and Backlogs
Recent monthly NHS waiting time figures indicate that approximately 780,000 patients—equivalent to one in nine Scots—are currently awaiting a new outpatient, inpatient, or day case appointment. Despite this, the number of patients waiting over a year has been decreasing since July.
Backlogs in planned care increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was anticipated that waits exceeding two years and subsequently one year would be eliminated in most specialties by September 2024. However, these targets were not met.
In March 2025, the Scottish government made a renewed commitment to eradicate waits exceeding one year for certain appointments and procedures.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane criticised the ongoing backlog, stating it remains "staggeringly high."
"The SNP will paint a positive picture, but the reality is that almost 800,000 Scots are still stuck on an NHS waiting list on their watch," he said.
