The Scottish government has announced £36 million to expand walk-in GP services.

It is hoped the investment will improve same-day access to urgent care and people will benefit from faster access to GP care.

The money will be spent on the rollout of a new network of walk-in General Practice (GP) services, designed to make it easier for people to see GPs and other primary care clinicians quickly for urgent health concerns without needing an appointment.

Fifteen walk-in service centres will be set up. Services will be focused on urgent, on-the-day primary care needs.

The services will be one 12pm-8pm, seven days per week and will complement existing GP practices, NHS 24, community pharmacy, and hospitals

Patients will be able to attend without an appointment.

The first pilot site is Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, which Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray recently visited. He said: "This £36 million investment will help more people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Walk-in services will make it easier to access urgent care on the day it's needed, while easing pressure on GP practices and hospitals.

“Open seven days per week, between 12pm-8pm, our new walk-in centres will ensure people can get the care they need at a time that works for them – and will deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.

“The funding for the walk-in services is just part of almost £22.5 billion allocated to health and social care, including a record £17.6 billion 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.”

Tracey McKigen, Director of Primary Care for NHS Lothian, said: “We 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. While plans are still being refined, we believe the new service will help improve access to primary care and complement existing local health services.”