Overview

• John Swinney announced a nationwide network of walk-in GP services starting with 15 pilot sites, promising more than one million additional GP and nurse appointments.
• The centres would be staffed by GPs and nurses, open seven days a week from 12 noon to 8pm, and operate without advance booking on local high streets.
• The first site is promised within 12 months, with further expansion presented as an election pledge ahead of the 2026 Holyrood vote.
• The PA news agency reported an estimated cost of about £30 million for the initial 15 centres, though the government has not confirmed a figure.
• RCGP Scotland and the BMA’s Scottish GP committee warned the plan risks fragmenting care and offers limited value without more staff, while aides could not provide full details on locations, total cost or rollout timelines.