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Supporting 45,000 patients to access same-day treatment.

Thousands of patients in Glasgow will have easier access to urgent same day care as Scotland’s latest GP walk-in service opened its doors.

First Minister John Swinney visited the centre in Cardonald as it opened to patients today. The service will enable residents in Cardonald and the surrounding area to receive treatment without an appointment, Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 20:00. 

Depending on clinical need, patients may be seen by a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner. The service will also be made available to those without fixed addresses or who are homeless to ensure no one misses out on access to care.

It is the ninth centre to open as part of the Scottish Government’s pilot GP walk-in programme, which has been designed to provide more choice for patients while helping to relieve pressure on wider NHS services.

The First Minister yesterday said:

“I promised that my government would end the frustrating ‘8am rush’ for GP appointments - and we are delivering on that commitment.

“Patients across the country are already benefitting from this pilot, which enables access to urgent, same-day care at new GP-led walk-in services – with Glasgow the latest service to open its doors.

“Walk-in services will help us bridge between General Practice and Urgent care – offering patients with urgent health concerns another way to be seen and treated, on the day and closer to home.  Existing GP services will continue to provide their patients with all general medical services.

“We are on track to open another at least another two additional walk-in centres and set out the next phase of expansion, within the first 100 days of this government. This year we will expand access to a further 14 locations, taking the total to 30 walk-in clinics across the country. That is a Scottish Government delivering for the people of Scotland.”

Jann Gardner, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) Chief Executive, yesterday said:

“The opening of the GP Walk-In Clinic in Cardonald marks an important step in improving access to care for local residents.

“NHSGGC is at the forefront of this new approach and we are committed to learning from the Walk-In Clinic as we continue to modernise healthcare. This forms part of a wider programme of work to improve how patients access services, including initiatives such as FNC+ and e-triage.

“We will continue to develop services that are responsive to the needs of our communities.”

Background

As a formally evaluated pilot, the Cardonald GP walk-in service will generate insight into patient demand, service utilisation, clinical outcomes, and system impact. This includes understanding how and why patients choose to attend, the extent to which the service supports unmet need and its role in alleviating pressure across wider urgent care pathways.

Learning from this pilot will inform future decision-making at Board and national level, supporting the development of sustainable and scalable models of care. The programme represents an important step in testing how enhanced access to primary care can contribute to a more resilient, responsive urgent care system, aligned to national priorities and long-term service reform.