Friday January 16th 2026
Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, Edinburgh
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
An investment from the Scottish Government will see the country’s first walk-in GP service open in Edinburgh.
A £36 million investment announced in the Scottish Budget will allow people to benefit from faster access to GP care as part of the rollout of a new network of walk-in General Practices (GP), designed to make it easier for people to see GP’s and other primary care clinicians.
With 15 walk-in services being established, the first is set to open in Edinburgh with the first future pilot site being at Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre.
The services are set to focus on urgent, on-the-day care needs, similar to care currently provided by GP out-of-hours services.
The services – which will be open 12pm to 8pm, seven days per week – will allow people to attend without prior appointment and will complement existing GP practices, NHS 24, community pharmacy, and hospitals.
Visiting the first future pilot site in Wester Hailes, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray 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.”
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