John Swinney has promised hat the Scottish Government will open up a “nationwide network of walk-in GP services” in a bid to break the so-called “8am rush for appointments”.
He told the audience at the SNP conference these centres would be based in high streets, near schools and close to where people work and would be open seven days a week.
“They will break from the status quo,” the SNP leader said.
He said they would be “staffed by GPs and nurses” and open from noon to 8pm, with no need to call in advance to make an appointment.
“That means more people can go after work, when it fits with their lives,” Mr Swinney said.
“And to make that even easier they will be open seven days a week.”
Saying the scheme would start with “fifteen sites across Scotland”, Mr Swinney added: “They will deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.
“And the first will be up and running within the year.”
During his speech the First Minister announced made another policy announcement saying the Scottish Government would sponsor social care workers from overseas to work in the country’s care homes.
He announced the move after he said “Westminster shut down the visa route for social care workers” and “even withdrew job offers that had already been promised”.
The result was, he said, that “thousands of care workers here in the UK entirely legally, have been left high and dry”, while at the same time “care homes are crying out for staff”.
Speaking at the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen, Mr Swinney asked: “In what world does that make any sense?”
He added: “I’ve got a solution. I can announce today that the Scottish Government is going to step in.
“We will sponsor these skilled staff so they can work, pay tax and help keep Scotland’s care homes running.
“Hundreds of dedicated workers, able to start work immediately.
“Scotland’s older people must not pay the price for Westminster’s prejudice.”
During his address to the party which closed the three day conference in Aberdeen, Mr Swinney also said he was “just getting started” as Scotland’s First Minister.
He took on the job last year after Humza Yousaf stepped down, and said he would be seeking a mandate in next May’s Scottish elections to “fundamentally transform” the country.
Mr Swinney told the SNP conference that “becoming First Minister is such a privilege”, adding that it is “the ultimate opportunity to serve the people of this country”.
Mr Swinney said: “It is an enormous privilege to be First Minister.
“But let me tell you a secret – I am just getting started.
“When I lead the SNP into the election next year, I will be seeking my own mandate from the people of Scotland.
“A mandate to fundamentally transform our country for the long term.”
Commenting on the plan for drop in GP clinics, Dr Iain Morrison, chair of BMA Scottish general practitioners committee, said: “Restoring funding and shifting the balance of care to general practice will provide the foundations from which we can look to a brighter future for our practices and patients – however we cannot afford to see essential resources lost into pilot schemes with limited potential.
“We know walk-in centres used elsewhere in the UK have not demonstrated good value for money – it is clear that resources must be directed into core, essential services, such as general practice, to deliver the NHS service in Scotland that people deserve and want.
“We are happy to continue a dialogue with the Scottish Government on how best this can be achieved once we see details of this proposal.”
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