TIPANIC

Swinney claims that his walk-in GP gimmick is a lifeline for the NHS. But he knows an election is looming ever closer..and he can smell ice already

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WITH a Holyrood election looming, we are once again witnessing a stale SNP government scrambling for a quick win. Their latest trick? An announcement of a network of 15 walk-in GP centres, promising to end the dreaded "8am rush" for appointments.

As a former shadow health secretary, and someone who hears firsthand from constituents every week, my reaction to this plan is simple: Is this a truly workable solution, or just another headline-grabbing fantasy to distract from 18 years of mismanagement? The reality under the SNP, as doctors and nurses across Scotland have told me for years, is that our core primary care system is at breaking point.

Patients struggle to see their family doctor, delayed diagnosis is becoming a heartbreaking norm, and the immense pressure on A&E is largely due to people being unable to access the community care they need.

The SNP's proposal, staffed by GPs and nurses, sounds appealing on paper.

But listen to what the experts are actually saying. Bodies like the BMA and the Royal College of GPS have made it clear: this plan does not address the fundamental issue of a chronically understaffed and underfunded core GP service.

We can hope this works while wondering exactly where these new staff going to come from? Existing practices are already struggling with severe recruitment and retention and GP training takes years.