A pilot project which aims to give people instant advice on matters such as stopping smoking and sexual health was launched today by health secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

The new walk-in services at pharmacies will also deal with minor injuries and illnesses, immunisation, and will offer people simple diagnostic services, such as checks to determine heart disease risk.

Ms Sturgeon visited the pharmacy at Glasgow Central Station - one of eight involved in the scheme - as she launched the pilot.

Pharmacies in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Airdrie, Edinburgh and Dundee are taking part in the project, which will also involve them opening for extended hours.

Some of the new services are already up and running, while the others will become available between now and the end of the year.

Launching the scheme, Ms Sturgeon explained the Scottish Government was committed to making it easier for people to access high-quality healthcare and added: "These walk-in pharmacy services will make a range of services available right in the heart of communities.

"All the pilot projects will operate extended hours. Here at Glasgow, for instance, the pharmacy will stay open until midnight six days a week, providing smoking cessation advice and sexual health treatment as well as core pharmacy services."

The pilot programme will run until March 2010 and Ms Sturgeon said: "We will now monitor these new walk-in centre pilots closely to establish their effectiveness locally."