Public Health Scotland Publishes Data on New GP Walk-in Centres

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has begun publishing monthly activity across Scotland's new GP walk-in centres today, supporting the national pilot programme to improve access to urgent primary care.

Scottish Government recently launched a network of GP walk-in centres designed to help people access same-day care for urgent health concerns without needing an appointment. The centres aim to improve access to primary care while reducing pressure on traditional GP practices and hospital services.

The first GP walk-in centre opened in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, within NHS Lothian, in February 2026.  By the end of June 2026, a further eight centres had opened across the country, with plans for a total of 30 centres to become operational. The monthly reports show the number of cases and consultations recorded at every GP walk-in centre from February 2026 onwards.

Publishing this information aims to help health boards, policymakers and the public understand levels of activity and demand for the new services and monitor how the pilot is developing across Scotland. As additional centres open, they will be incorporated into the reporting to provide a comprehensive national picture of the pilot programme.

Users of the statistics should note that the walk-in centres have been introduced on a phased basis, with some centres having been operational for longer than others. In addition, centres may have different opening hours and serve different patient groups based on local arrangements. As a result, direct comparisons of activity levels between individual centres should not be made.

Alongside the publication of management information by PHS, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is undertaking a national evaluation of the pilot programme. The evaluation will focus on key questions relating to the effectiveness, appropriateness and cost of the walk-in services, helping to build the evidence base needed to inform future decisions about the delivery of urgent primary care in Scotland.

View the data here.

More information about the walk-in clinics, their locations and eligibility criteria can be found at NHS Inform: Walk-in services | NHS inform