A briefing paper co-authored by former SNP Health Secretary Alex Neil, ex-Labour health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson and former GP Dr Alastair Noble has called for Scotland's new GP walk-in centres to be scrapped and for the NHS England app to be adopted immediately rather than waiting for a Scottish equivalent. The intervention is significant because it comes from senior, experienced health figures rather than opposition politicians, and it directly challenges First Minister John Swinney's flagship reform plans amid mounting pressure on GP surgeries and appointment access.

The report, published by the Enlighten think-tank, said money earmarked for the walk-in centres should instead go to existing GP practices, noting that the nine centres open throughout July treated just 3,732 patients between them. It also urged Scotland to "license the English NHS app" rather than continuing work on the Mycare.scot app, which is not due to be finished until 2030, saying "not everything needs a Saltire added to it". Other recommendations included appointing a business figure to tackle prescription waste, forming a cross-party commission on long-term health and social care planning, decentralising NHS decision-making, and expanding "hospital at home" services. Scottish Conservative spokesman Miles Briggs described the findings as a "damning indictment" of SNP management of the health service.