However, the Scottish Conservatives have described the plans as a “pre-election stunt” after senior medics warned it had “limited potential” and did not address “critical workforce shortages”.
In an interview with BBC Scotland on Tuesday, the Health Secretary said a record 1,200 GPs were currently in training while others were “looking for employment”.
He told the broadcaster: “We believe this is something that we can work with the profession on ensuring we can staff both with GPs and on advanced nurse practitioners and practice nurses and ensuring we’ve got a model that suits the needs of the people that are coming to see them.”
First Minister John Swinney said the walk-in clinics would create around one million additional GP appointments each year.
But the Royal College of General Practitioners said the organisation was not consulted on the plans, which were unveiled at SNP conference.
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Mr Gray was asked whether it was a “mistake” not to consult medics, but said “conference announcements are conference announcements”. He committed to working with the medical groups during the development stage of the pilot scheme.
Dr Chris Provan, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “Who will staff these new services and their extended weekend hours?
“How will continuity of care be preserved, when patients benefit enormously from knowing and trusting their regular GP?”
Mr Gray said this service would not replace the usual GP service but opens up “easier” access.
In 2017, the Scottish Government pledged to recruit 800 additional GPs over a 10-year period – but figures show fewer than 200 have been hired in eight years.
Scotland’s GP headcount has risen slightly. It sits at around 4,582 – up from 4,285 in 2017.
Dr Iain Morrison, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish General Practitioners Committee, warned against shifting “essential resources” into “pilot schemes with limited potential”.
He argued that similar walk-in centres elsewhere in the UK had “not demonstrated good value for money”, insisting that cash must be “directed into core, essential services, such as general practice”.
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Scottish Tory MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane, who is also a GP, said: This latest policy from John Swinney to try and support GPs is nothing more than back of a fag packet stuff and a pre-election stunt.”
The Conservative added: “John Swinney has been at the heart of a rotten SNP Government who have failed GPs for 18 years. If this is such a good idea, why have they taken so long to do it?
“No wonder GPs like myself believe this will be the latest in a litany of broken promises made to us.
“I see first-hand the effects of the SNP’s mismanagement on GP services and what that is doing to overwhelmed colleagues and suffering patients.”
Dr Gulhane continued: “The SNP are completely detached from the reality facing staff and patients across Scotland’s NHS and have no real vision to fix the permanent crisis within the health service.
“On John Swinney’s watch, GPs are burnt out and feel abandoned and this policy will do nothing to help stem that tide.”
During the BBC interview, the Health Secretary brushed off questions about whether it was a pre-election stunt.
Mr Gray said: “We want to make sure that we’re continuing to come forward with the fresh ideas that are going to make the difference in helping to improve our health and social care services as we are in responding to the challenges and the needs of people across Scotland in all aspects of public services.”
He said the Scottish Government would be looking to build on the GP pledge “post election”.