First GP walk-in clinic opens in Scotland but nurse staffing concerns remain

The first of 15 new GP ‘walk-in’ clinics has opened in Scotland with appointments available with an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) or a GP.

The move comes as part of a £36m pilot which aims to deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments across the country.

But the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland has said the move ‘will not be enough to deliver real change’ within the health and care system and raised fresh concerns about how these new clinics will be staffed given nurse shortages.

The Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre in Edinburgh has become Scotland’s first ever walk-in GP clinic, opening this week at as part of a pilot service run by NHS Lothian and Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, funded by the Scottish Government.

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The service, which is accessible for patients registered with a select group of GP practices in southwest Edinburgh, is open from 12pm to 8pm, seven days a week.

NHS Lothian have confirmed that the clinic is currently staffed by a GP and an ANP, with online advice stating patients will be seen by either or depending on their clinical need.

Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland executive director, has welcomed the new clinic but states it will ‘will not be enough to deliver real change within the health and care system’.

He said: ‘We have continuously called for the Scottish Government to increase funding for community health and social care services but this funding must be additional – it cannot come from cuts to acute services.

‘Nursing staffing levels remains a critical issue for health and care services, with the latest workforce data showing 2,000 registered nurse vacancies within NHS Scotland alone.

‘We have yet to see a detailed workforce plan on how to recruit enough staff to fill the current gaps, let alone the extra capacity required to provide these new clinics.

‘Too often decisions are being made based on short-term considerations of affordability, rather than what’s needed.

‘Only by investing in acute and community care at the same time will we create an environment where we can see lasting change.’

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Mr Poolman first expressed concerns over nurse staffing levels in October when the clinics were first announced by Scottish National Party (SNP) first minister John Swinney.

The new service, which started operating on February 11, will be the first of 15 to open after the Scottish Government invested £36m into the pilot programme.

Mr Swinney said: ‘I know how important access to urgent medical care is for people, and how important it is for people to get the right care, in the right place at the right time.

‘Our network of walk-in GP-led services will ensure people get the care they need at a time that works for them – and opening this first clinic is a major milestone as we continue to deliver trusted leadership for our health service.

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‘Open seven days per week from 12pm-8pm, these walk-in clinics will deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments, making it easier than ever for people to access urgent care when they need it most.’

Tracey McKigen, director of primary care for NHS Lothian, said: ‘We are proud to be launching this pilot service in collaboration with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.

‘It will add to the range of health services in Wester Hailes and make it easier for local patients registered with eight eligible GP practices in southwest Edinburgh to get same day care for new, urgent conditions.’