A network of walk-in GP centres will be opened across Scotland , the First Minister has announced.

Speaking at the SNP conference in Aberdeen , John Swinney said his party would end the era of the 8am rush, where patients call practices in the hope of getting an appointment.

The policy will start with 15 centres across the country to test their efficacy, with the first to be opened in the next 12 months.

The PA news agency understands the cost for the first 15 could be about £30 million, with no maximum number of centres in the long term.

Staffed by GPs and nurses, the facilities will be open seven days a week from noon to 8pm to increase the number of GP appointments by one million.

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