NHS health boards across Scotland are preparing to open new walk-in GP centres designed to ease pressure on primary care services, with facilities planned for multiple locations including Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Elgin, and Peterhead. The walk-in centres represent a significant expansion of unscheduled care capacity, with health officials projecting tens of thousands of patient appointments annually once the facilities become operational.
According to Dr Hayley Harris, clinical director for NHS Lothian’s unscheduled care services, the Edinburgh walk-in centre will be staffed by one GP, one advanced practice nurse, one physiotherapist, two receptionists, and one link worker. Harris indicated the facility is expected to accommodate up to 60 patients daily, which would total approximately 21,360 appointments per year when excluding public holidays.
NHS Grampian Planning Multiple Walk-In GP Facilities
NHS Grampian has outlined more extensive plans for walk-in GP services across three separate locations. Freedom of information documents obtained by the BBC reveal that the health board is planning for 90,720 patient slots annually across proposed sites in Aberdeen, Elgin, and Peterhead. The facilities will employ eight GPs and three triage nurses among other staff members.
The bid document shows that NHS Grampian is allowing for 20-minute appointment slots, citing the “risks associated with seeing unknown patients” as the reason for the extended consultation time. This approach differs from traditional GP practices where appointment lengths can vary based on patient familiarity and medical history. However, the exact capacity limits for both the Lothian and Grampian walk-in centres have not yet been confirmed by health officials.
Additional Proposals Across Scotland
Meanwhile, NHS Fife submitted plans last month for a walk-in clinic in Buckhaven with a projected annual capacity of 64,240 appointments. This proposal has not yet received final approval from the health board. The substantial appointment capacity suggests the facility would serve a significant population beyond the immediate Buckhaven area.
In contrast to the larger urban centres, a walk-in GP centre will open next month in Benbecula, which has a population of just 1,286 residents. The Benbecula facility will operate seven days a week with hours from 09:00 to 17:30, providing extended access to primary care services in the remote island community.
Addressing Primary Care Access Challenges
The expansion of walk-in GP centres reflects ongoing challenges within Scotland’s primary care system, where patients often face difficulties securing timely appointments with traditional general practices. These new facilities aim to provide an alternative for patients requiring same-day medical attention for non-emergency conditions. Additionally, walk-in centres can help redistribute patient demand away from overstretched emergency departments.
The staffing models being implemented vary across health boards but generally include a mix of GPs, advanced practice nurses, and support staff. This multidisciplinary approach allows the walk-in centres to manage a range of medical issues while maximizing efficiency. The inclusion of physiotherapists and link workers in some facilities indicates a broader approach to patient care beyond traditional GP consultations.
Health boards have not confirmed specific opening dates for most of the planned walk-in GP centres, with the exception of the Benbecula facility scheduled for next month. The approval process for NHS Fife’s Buckhaven proposal and the finalization of capacity details for Lothian and Grampian facilities remain pending.
