RCGP Scotland responds to new walk-in centre data

Commenting on the public of data from Public Health Scotland, RCGP Scotland Chair Dr Chris Provan said:

"GPs are just as frustrated as patients when problems arise in accessing GP appointments. We want every patient to be able to see their trusted GP in a timely manner. However, today’s figures reinforce our long-held view: GP walk-in centres will not meaningfully increase the capacity of general practice to meet the needs of the population.

“The data shows that the six GP walk-in centres that were fully operational in June delivered approximately 70 patient contacts per day. GPs and their teams across Scotland provide around 136,000 patient contacts every weekday. While the Scottish Government presents walk-in centres as a solution to difficulties in accessing GP appointments, today's figures demonstrate their contribution to addressing the capacity challenges facing general practice is minimal.

"GP walk-in centres have already been extensively trialled in England, where they failed to reduce pressure on general practice or emergency departments, along with other unintended consequences. In Scotland, these centres offer a narrower range of services than those available through core GP practices, replicate services already provided through initiatives such as Pharmacy First and operate at significantly higher cost.

"The pilot has been an unfortunate distraction from the Scottish Government's welcome investment in general practice, which will restabilise general practice, grow GP capacity, and deliver a new programme to improve practice telephony and appointment booking systems. This is the way to deliver genuine improvements to the speed and quality of patient access to their GP. 

"The Scottish Government has confirmed that this pilot programme is time limited. Once all pilot sites have concluded, there must be a robust and transparent evaluation. If that evaluation shows, as we fully expect, that walk-in centres provide fewer services at greater cost, then the pilot should not be continued. The centres should close and the staff redeployed to in-hours and out-of-hours GP services, where they can have the greatest impact for patients." 

Further information

Media requests to Marcus Carslaw, Policy and Public Relations Officer RCGP Scotland, Tel: 07808 795493 / marcus.carslaw@rcgp.org.uk    

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.