The First Minister, John Swinney, is to open a new GP walk-in clinic in Wester Hailes on Wednesday.
Patients will be able to access GP-led same day care without an appointment, making it easier for them to access urgent medical attention. The care will be provided by a GP or an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. The Scottish Government has committed £36 million in a pilot programme to be rolled out in the coming months.
There will be 15 new facilities of this type in Scotland, and this is the first, which is regarded as a significant step to boost primary care.
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.
“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.
“With GP numbers up, long waits down, record numbers of hip and knee operations and 15 new walk-in GP clinics opening in Scotland, it is clear we are making progress in our NHS – and I am determined that we will continue to drive forward improvements.
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.”
The walk-in clinic at Wester Hailes will be open seven days a week from noon to 8pm. At first the service is available to patients registered with a GP in southwest Edinburgh.
