Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) are pleased to announce that the new pilot GP appointment walk-in service will launch at Cowal Community Hospital today, 26 June, offering additional access to primary care for local patients.
The service will initially run on a limited basis, opening between the hours of 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays each week as part of a carefully managed pilot. The approach will allow the HSCP to test the model, understand demand and ensure the service is safe, effective and sustainable before any future expansion.
The walk-in service is designed to complement existing GP services, providing an additional option for patients requiring same-day care for non-emergency conditions. Patients are encouraged to continue using existing NHS services as normal, with the pilot intended to support—not replace—current provision.
The service will be supported by established digital systems to monitor activity such as demand, capacity and outcomes, alongside patient feedback to inform future planning
Eilidh Gallagher, Head of Primary Care for Argyll and Bute HSCP, said:
“This pilot at Cowal Community Hospital is an important step in exploring how we can improve access to primary care for our communities. We are taking a measured and responsible approach, starting small so we can learn from the service, ensure it is working well and understand how it can best support patients alongside existing GP services.”
Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “This is welcome news for patients in Dunoon who will now have access to same-day care without an appointment and closer to home.
“I thank the Health and Social Care Partnership for their efforts to get this service up and running and look forward to hearing the results of the pilot.
“The opening of this service represents another positive step forward in our plans to expand GP walk-in services across Scotland, helping improve capacity within primary care and relieve pressure on our emergency services.”