Extract of John Swinney Conference Speech 13/10/2025
When I lead the SNP into the election next year, I will be seeking my own mandate from the people of Scotland. A mandate to fundamentally transform our country for the long term.
I will continue to be a leader who listens in order to lead. There is no more important issue to all of us than our National Health Service. We all use it. I use it, my family uses it. And we will be forever grateful for what the NHS does for us.
Yes, there are challenges. But we all have heard directly from people who praise our NHS staff and are positive about their treatment in the NHS.
More and more people are being seen. Waiting lists are falling. More appointments. More operations. And more GPs.
But one key issue I hear about is the '8am rush' for appointments. We want to make it easier for you to see a GP - where and when it works for you.
That is why I can announce today that this SNP Government will open a nationwide network of walk-in GP services. Based in your community. On your local high street. Near your child's school. Or close to your workplace.
They will break from the status quo. They will add to the care we already value.
Staffed by GPs and nurses. Open from 12 noon to 8pm. And you won't need to call up for an appointment.
That means more people can go after work - when it fits with their lives. And to make that even easier they will be open seven days a week.
Friends, this is just the start. We will expand this network, but it will begin with 15 sites across Scotland.
**They will deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments, and the first will be up and running within the year**. **[my emphasis]
That is personalised care, on your doorstep. That is self-government working. That's the SNP Government working for Scotland.
Conference, the SNP is thinking and acting in these new radical ways to respond to people's key concerns
#ReportingScotland confidently suggesting @johnswinney.bsky.social is doing an election stunt. #Labour & #Tories nodding furiously. Sadly it all takes a complete suspension of the fact in the speech. The wee bit about delivery being "up and running within the Year" flying past the May elections.