SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has warmly welcomed the announcement from the SNP Scottish Government that a new walk-in GP clinic will open in Benbecula in late March.
The game changing walk-in clinics will allow people to see a GP or nurse quickly without the need for an appointment, focusing on urgent, on-the-day primary care needs. The clinic in Benbecula will be open seven days a week, 9am to 5.30pm, to complement the island’s existing out of hours provision which operates until 8pm and beyond. The service will help patients get the care they need while also easing pressure on other local healthcare services.
Across Scotland the locations of a total of 16 walk-in GP clinics have been confirmed today, which will help deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments nationally.
Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:
“The opening of a new walk-in GP clinic in Benbecula is very welcome indeed. I’ve been pushing consistently for improved access to healthcare services across our islands, and this will make a real difference locally, beginning in just a couple of months’ time. Work is ongoing to improve patient travel, and I’m fighting for better access to NHS dentistry for islanders as well.
“The new walk-in GP clinics are well spread out across Scotland, and I’m very pleased that one of the initial 16 clinics is to open here in the Western Isles.
"John Swinney's strong leadership is focussed on the priorities of the people of Scotland, and we are starting to see our NHS turn a corner with waiting times falling every month, and GP walk-in centres opening up across the country to provide more appointments and ease pressure on local A&E services and existing GP surgeries, as well as helping patients avoid the 8am rush to try and secure an appointment.
“Sadly, Labour failed to back the budget which will deliver this vital new service in Uist – they are more focused on scandal and division than delivering for Scotland.
"While other parties focus on themselves, our focus will always be on delivering for the people of Scotland - that's what's on the ballot on 7th May.”
