PATIENTS in Cowal can now access a new GP walk-in service without an appointment following the launch of a pilot scheme at Cowal Community Hospital last week.
The service, which began on Thursday, June 26, will initially operate between 12pm and 6pm every Thursday and Friday, providing an additional option for people requiring same-day treatment for non-emergency health concerns.
Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) says the pilot has been introduced to improve access to primary care while gathering information on demand, patient outcomes and the long-term viability of the service.
The walk-in clinic is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing GP practices, with patients encouraged to continue accessing their usual surgery and other NHS services where appropriate.
The pilot will be closely monitored using digital systems to assess demand, capacity and patient outcomes, while feedback from those using the service will also help shape its future.
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.”
The launch has also been welcomed by Scotland’s Health Secretary, Angela Constance.
She 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.”
The HSCP said the limited opening hours will allow the service to be introduced safely while assessing whether there is sufficient demand to support any future expansion.
