Labour promises GP appointments in 48 hours if it wins Scottish election

Patients will be able to see their GP within 48 hours under changes to be brought in by Scottish Labour, the party has pledged.

Labour has vowed it will renegotiate the current GP contract if it forms the government after next year’s Holyrood elections, adding this would allow changes to be made to improve access to family doctors.

The party announced the policy in the run-up to its Scottish conference, which gets under way in Glasgow on Friday.

But the gathering comes at a time when support for Labour has dropped in polls following unpopular decisions made by Sir Keir Starmer’s Westminster Government on issues such as the introduction of means testing for pensioners’ winter fuel payments.

With Scottish Labour however determined to challenge the SNP in the 2026 Holyrood elections, a number of new policies are expected to be announced.

As part of this it is pledging to end the “8am rush” for GP appointments – committing to starting negotiations on a revised contract with family doctors within 100 days of a Scottish Labour government being formed.

This new contract, Labour says, could allow patients to book GP appointments in advance, as well as get access to a doctor within 48 hours when they need medical attention.

Hitting out at the SNP health spokesperson and Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Under the SNP, primary care support has dropped from 11% of the health budget to 6% and at the same time we have fewer GPs and more patients.

“The SNP have simply failed patients and they have failed GPs.

“The result is that too often Scots who need help from their GP surgery are left on hold only to be told there are no appointments left.”

Baillie added: “Scottish Labour will renegotiate the GP contract so it delivers for patients and GPs and ensures that anyone who needs to can be seen within 48 hours.”

However, health secretary Neil Gray said he and First Minister John Swinney had already “set out clear, tangible, concrete proposals to improve our NHS, increase capacity and make it easier for people to see their GP”.

Gray added: “In contrast, Labour’s big idea appears to be the renegotiation of a contract and hoping this delivers better outcomes.

“Labour are talking about talks, while the First Minister and I are taking decisive action here and now to improve our NHS.”

The health secretary continued: “We already have the highest number of GPs per head in the UK and a record number of trainee GPs coming through the system – but we are determined to go further and increase the number of GPs by 800 by 2027.”

Adding that the 2025-26 Scottish Budget “includes record funding for the NHS and more money for primary care”, Mr Gray hit out at Labour for “refusing to back this investment”.

He stated: “We know that people want better access to their GP and we are determined to deliver that. “