Victoria Boyle reviews the political climate within which walk-in centres operate.Victoria Boyle RGN, PGDip, BA (Hons). Staff Nurse, James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust, Norfolk. Article accepted for publication: August 2002

Victoria Boyle has recently studied for the Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing at the University of Central England in Birmingham. Like a growing number of nurses, she is considering a career in community nursing when she has gained some experience. Recently she spent time in clinical placement at one of the Nurse Led Walk-in Centre Pilot sites as part of her Adult Nursing in Primary Care module, and used the experience to analyse the political and perhaps controversial context within which the walk-in centres operate. Victoria considers their relationship with general practice and also suggests that walk-in centres are an opportunity for nurses to expand their role and play a part in the Governments vision of a modern, responsive, patient-focused NHS.