Tim Eagle MSP has called for clarity on how a new NHS walk-in centre for Moray will be funded and staffed after it was confirmed the region is set to receive one.
NHS Grampian is to receive three out of the promised 15 walk-in centres in Scotland, aimed at ending the early-morning rush for appointments.
The walk-in centre for Moray is expected to be based in Elgin, although this has not been confirmed yet. The second one will be in Aberdeen, with the third in Aberdeenshire.
But both BMA Scotland and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland said the move “will not be enough to deliver real change” and raised concerns about how these new clinics will be staffed due to current shortages.
Last week, the Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre in Edinburgh become Scotland’s first walk-in GP clinic.
However, it emerged that it is only staffed by a GP and a nurse, with online advice stating patients will be seen depending on their clinical need.
Scottish Conservative rural affairs secretary and Buckie-based MSP Tim Eagle said: “While I recognise the massive importance of GPs and the wider primary care team, I find myself echoing the concerns of medical professionals.
“They rightly say that funding should be spent on improving GP surgeries across Moray, not setting up ideas like this that fail to address the problem of waiting times across the whole region.
“The fact Edinburgh’s walk-in centre is only staffed by one GP and one nurse speaks volumes for how little these proposals have been thought through.
“How will a walk-in centre in Elgin for example help people in Forres or Keith, or how will notes from any meeting be passed back to the family GP? These are vital questions.”
He added: “What is needed is a properly funded plan to support our GPs and reduce waiting times in our surgeries right across Moray.
“It’s no coincidence these plans have been quickly put together by the SNP before an election, which is why GPs and nurses believe the Scottish Government is more focused on headlines than healthcare.
“I know how hard local staff are working and I will do everything I can to show why they need our support during this very difficult time.
“I understand that councillors have now been notified of this plan and I look forward to hearing more from the healthcare team as this progresses.
Dr Iain Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland’s GP Committee, said: “We remain unconvinced that this model will have a significant impact on reducing demand on other services, including GP workloads.
“To end the ;8am rush’, it would be better, as is happening with the funding restoration deal we agreed, to direct resources into core, essential services, such as general practice, which will deliver the NHS service in Scotland that people deserve and want.”
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Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland executive director, said: “We have yet to see a detailed workforce plan on how to recruit enough staff to fill the current gaps, let alone the extra capacity required to provide these new clinics.
“Too often decisions are being made based on short-term considerations of affordability, rather than what’s needed.
“Only by investing in acute and community care at the same time will we create an environment where we can see lasting change.”
