More than 7,000 patients have used Scotland’s first GP walk in services as the Scottish Government continues to expand a pilot aimed at improving access to same day healthcare.

New figures published by Public Health Scotland show that 7,082 consultations took place between February and June, with demand increasing as more centres opened and awareness of the service grew.

The highest monthly total was recorded in June, when 2,299 consultations were carried out across the pilot sites.

The walk in services allow patients to receive same day care from GPs or Advanced Nurse Practitioners without needing to book an appointment in advance.

The pilot has been introduced to offer patients greater flexibility while helping reduce pressure on GP practices and wider NHS services.

Six locations opened between February and June, with ten of the 16 planned pilot services now in operation across Scotland.

Health Secretary Angela Constance said:

“We have promised to end the frustrating 8 am rush for GP appointments and this new data shows that more people are benefiting from appointment free care, at a time that works best for them.

“Some 7,082 walk in consultations have already been carried out giving patients access to urgent, same day care and we will roll this out to many more communities over the weeks and months ahead.

“Our focus is not simply on counting every patient, but on making every patient count.

“The pilot is just getting started and as it grows we will know more about how it is working.

“But behind every attendance is a person who has received timely assessment, reassurance, treatment or advice that may have improved their experience, supported earlier intervention, or prevented a more serious outcome.

“We have opened ten of the originally planned 16 GP walk in services in five months and will soon be announcing even more locations as the pilot expands.”

The Scottish Government says further locations will be announced over the coming months as it continues to evaluate the pilot and consider how appointment free GP services could improve access to primary healthcare across Scotland.