16 GP walk-in clinics are planned across Scotland.

12 new sites have been confirmed, following the opening of the first walk-in centre in Edinburgh on 11 February.

Another will open in March in Lochee in Dundee. It will be available seven days a week from 12pm-8pm, with no appointment necessary. Another on Benbecula island will open next month, open seven days a week, 9am to 5.30pm.

Further sites in Shetland, Stranraer and Hawick will open in April, with more scheduled for throughout the year.

A second stage of the roll-out will see the development of three further sites in premises on the high street or former retail sites in East Ayrshire, Clydesdale, and Central Fife.

GP walk-ins will complement traditional General Practices and urgent care. Depending on clinical need, patients may see a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner or another health professional.

On a visit to a site in Lerwick, First Minister John Swinney said: “I committed to delivering 15 new walk-in GP centres and I am pleased that, not only will we now deliver an initial 16 sites, but many of these will be up and running in a matter of weeks.

“With centres open 12-8pm, seven days a week, and based in easily accessible locations in our communities across the country, this is part of a package addressing the 8am rush that has frustrated so many of us - easing capacity pressures on family doctors.  

“By establishing a series of walk-in clinics we can ensure people are seen by a clinician at a time that works for them. Our programme will help us deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.

“This complements our £531 million landmark investment in core General Practice. With GP numbers up, long waits down and new walk-in GP clinics being tested across Scotland, it is clear we are making real progress in our NHS and I am determined to continue driving forward improvements.”