NHS Fife and Fife HSCP to participate in phase 2 of Scottish Government National Walk-in Service Pilot

NHS Fife and the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) can confirm that Fife has been selected for Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s National Primary Care Walk-in Service.

As part of our submission to Scottish Government the proposal is that the pilot service will be delivered from a central, highly accessible location in Fife, chosen to ensure ease of access and high visibility for residents across Fife.

Under the Scottish Government’s proposal, the National Walk-in Service will provide same-day, face-to-face assessment and treatment for people with urgent, non-life-threatening health concerns. The service is designed to be complementary to existing general practice (GP) services, Community Pharmacy provisions and other urgent care pathways, ensuring patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Key aims of the service include:

• Providing an additional urgent care option for patients who need timely medical attention without an advance appointment.
• Helping to reduce unnecessary demand on Accident & Emergency (A&E) and out-of-hours services by offering an appropriate alternative for conditions that can be safely managed in a primary care setting.
• Supporting GP practices, community pharmacists and wider primary care teams by enhancing capacity to manage walk-in demand, particularly during peak periods.

The walk-in service will work alongside traditional GP practices, community pharmacies, NHS Fife urgent care services, NHS 24 111 and NHS Inform.

Lynne Garvey, Director Fife Health and Social Care Partnership and IJB Chief Officer, said:

“By working with partners and the Scottish Government, this pilot can offer patients a new way to access timely clinically-led assessment and treatment. We hope to learn from this pilot and that it supports people to get the right care in the right place.”

“We remain committed to building a sustainable primary care system that supports patients and ensures access to quality urgent care. This walk-in service complements the good work already provided by GP practices, community pharmacies and other health professionals across Fife.”

Further updates on the location, launch date, operating hours and service details will be shared with the public and partner organisations in the coming months as planning progresses.

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