{"id":698327,"date":"2026-01-15T19:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T19:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/698327\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T19:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T19:48:14","slug":"site-of-scotlands-first-walk-in-gp-clinic-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/698327\/","title":{"rendered":"Site of Scotland\u2019s first walk-in GP clinic revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The site of Scotland\u2019s walk-in GP clinic has been unveiled. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre in Edinburgh was named as the first future walk-in site on Thursday.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s part of the Scottish Government\u2019s \u00a336m plan to open a nationwide network of walk-in GP surgeries.<\/p>\n

In October, the First Minister announced that the new walk-in services would be staffed by GPs and nurses from noon to 8 pm, seven days a week, and that people would not need to call for an appointment.<\/p>\n

The Government has said 15 walk-in service centres will be established, with services focused on urgent, on-the-day primary care needs, similar to the care currently provided by GP out-of-hours services.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Scottish health secretary Neil Gray visited Edinburgh\u2019s Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, which is the first future pilot site to be announced.<\/p>\n

He promised that the new walk-in services will deliver \u201cover one million additional GP and nurse appointments\u201d for Scots.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis \u00a336m investment will help more people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time,\u201d Gray said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalk-in services will make it easier to access urgent care on the day it\u2019s needed, while easing pressure on GP practices and hospitals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe funding for the walk-in services is just part of almost \u00a322.5bn allocated to health and social care, including a record \u00a317.6bn for NHS services and resources. Our continued investment in the NHS is allowing us to target areas which are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs, and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible. I am determined to keep driving forward improvements so everyone can get the care they need, when they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

How will the walk-in service work?<\/p>\n

The pilots will be delivered by NHS boards in partnership with local GP teams and other primary care professionals, and will be designed to meet local needs and complementexisting services.<\/p>\n

The Wester Hailes pilot will provide care to an area of Edinburgh that is served by eight separate GPs, according to the deputy medical director primary care for NHS Lothian, Jeremy Chowings.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The walk-in service] is not there to replace general practice or be there to provide an alternative to the emergency department; it\u2019s there to provide access for the sorts of things that you want to see someone about, fairly urgent but not an emergency,\u201d Mr Chowings said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it is a pilot, so what we\u2019re hoping is that we\u2019ll see outcomes after some months or a year and say, \u2018This is what it does well, and this is what it doesn\u2019t do so well\u2019. And we\u2019ll be able to tweak the service to make it more effective for local people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tracey McKigen, director of primary care for NHS Lothian, said the plans are \u201cstill being refined\u201d, but said the new service will complement existing health services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working closely with Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care partnership and the Scottish Government to shape proposals for piloting a new walk-in GP service,\u201d Ms McKigen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile plans are still being refined, we believe the new service will help improve access to primary care and complement existing local health services.\u201d<\/p>\n

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