The first "supermarket surgery" in the UK opened yesterday, offering shoppers a chance to bag a GP appointment along with their groceries.

Sainsbury's launched the medical centre at Heaton Park in Manchester, where the public can book evening, weekend and day appointments with a doctor.

The six-month pilot project is being run in partnership with the local health authority, which will pay for doctors from local surgeries to man the consultation room at the supermarket's pharmacy using laptops to access patients' records.

Sainsbury's and the GPs involved said the initiative would improve public access to healthcare and, if successful, could be extended across the country.

Dr Mohammed Jiva, who is leading the Doctors In Store trial, said: "Patients' needs are changing and so it's important that we find ways to provide a more flexible service.

"A number of practices in the area have already come on board and we will be looking to roll this out even further."

However, the leader of Scotland's GPs and the nation's patient group were sceptical.

Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish GP committee, said: "I'm not quite clear what the problem they are trying to solve is. Is it appropriate access for patients, or a commercial venture by a supermarket which wants people to use its pharmacy?"

"If it does give patients added value then it's something we need to look at."

Dr Jean Turner, chief executive of Scotland Patients Association, said: "I would hope this never comes to Scotland. It's a quick fix. It appears to be good for patients because they are seen faster, but it's the thin end of the wedge in terms of continuity of care."