UK primary care weekly round-up: week commencing Monday 25 August 2025

The final week of August brought several important updates for primary care services. Access requirements for October are now confirmed. Childhood immunisation rates remain a priority as schools reopen. Digital procurement continues to reshape how NHS primary care services operate. New data also highlights activity levels, workforce funding, and community demand management.

Access and contract compliance: core-hours openness from October

From 1 October, practices must keep premises, telephone lines, and online consultation tools open throughout core hours. NHS England has repeated this requirement in its 2025/26 contract update. Therefore, practices need to align staffing, digital triage, and call-handling capacity. They should also update patient-facing information so that requests are safely managed between 08:00 and 18:30. These measures reinforce contract rules and will affect the daily running of NHS primary care services.

Vaccination and prevention: urgent catch-up before autumn term

UKHSA and NHS England warn that nearly one in five children starting school are not fully vaccinated. MMR two-dose coverage stands at only 83.7%. Practices should run searches for missing doses, deliver opportunistic vaccination, and coordinate with school teams. Since January, more than 740 measles cases have been confirmed, many in London, Bristol, and Salford. This creates an immediate risk for NHS primary care services.

The Department of Health and Social Care also confirmed that a routine chickenpox vaccine will launch in January 2026. It will form part of the combined MMRV schedule. Practices must prepare for transitional arrangements and watch for updated PGDs. This change represents another major shift in childhood immunisation within NHS primary care services.

Activity and capacity: record appointment levels

General practice delivered 33.6 million appointments in July, the highest number recorded. This figure is 4.3% higher than last year and almost a quarter above pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, community diagnostics expanded, with 20 mobile liver health scanning trucks now operating. Practices should expect follow-up workload from these referrals. Together, these figures highlight the sheer intensity of NHS primary care services.

Pharmacy First and community demand

Pharmacy First consultation caps changed in August. The £17 service fee now applies to set monthly activity bands, which limit how many consultations pharmacies can claim each month. Contractors can still treat patients once they reach the cap, but they will not earn the fee for those extra consultations. Consequently, practices should consider this when signposting patients for minor conditions, as local pharmacies may reach their thresholds at different times.

These changes affect NHS primary care services more widely. If pharmacies stop receiving payment for additional consultations, patients may return to general practice for support, increasing workload. Practices can reduce disruption by maintaining close communication with local pharmacies, monitoring referral patterns, and briefing reception or care navigation staff on how to direct patients effectively.

Workforce and ARRS: unspent funds

Analysis shows that £83 million of ARRS funding went unused in 2024/25. Although more than two thousand GPs are now employed through the scheme, many PCNs have struggled to convert funding into additional patient access. PCNs must therefore review recruitment pipelines and supervision capacity. Addressing these issues will strengthen workforce resilience across NHS primary care services.

Digital procurement: new frameworks emerge

The replacement for the GPIT Futures framework has been published on Find a Tender. This framework expands categories beyond the old GPITF model and covers online consultation, telephony, remote monitoring, and analytics. Commissioners and suppliers should prepare now for procurements linked to this framework. In addition, Wales recently closed engagement on its “Digital Triage Primary Care Solutions.” These developments underline the central role of digital tools in the future of NHS primary care services.

Devolved nations: Scotland’s position

Scotland reported a net rise of 138 GPs since March 2024 and announced £15 million of new funding to support recruitment and retention. Yet professional bodies argue that pressures remain high, with many practices continuing to struggle with workload, patient demand, and rising complexity of care. The government’s pledge to deliver 800 additional GPs by 2027 still appears challenging, particularly given recruitment timelines, training capacity, and the ongoing issue of early retirements.

Moreover, patient demand in rural and deprived communities continues to outstrip workforce growth, creating variation in access across regions. While the funding provides some short-term relief, professional leaders emphasise that sustained investment in workforce planning, supervision, and multidisciplinary teams is essential. The situation reflects the wider workforce challenge across NHS primary care services, where incremental increases in headcount often fail to match the reality of rising population need and service expectations.

Practical next steps

Practices should now test whether phones, premises, and online consultation remain open and safe across the full core hours. They must also ensure contingency cover for staff breaks and surges. Immunisation teams should update recall lists and run September catch-up clinics. PCNs should review ARRS deployment so that 2025/26 funds deliver tangible patient benefits. Taking these steps will help stabilise NHS primary care services ahead of the winter months.

How General Practice Solutions can help

At General Practice Solutions, we specialise in supporting NHS primary care services. We can review telephony and online consultation workflows to ensure readiness for October. Our coding and administrative teams clear backlogs and protect data quality for QOF, IIF, and CQC inspections. We also run vaccination call-recall campaigns, manage patient communication, and support long-term condition reviews.

Beyond clinical work, we provide HR expertise to help practices use ARRS funding effectively, improve supervision, and comply with UK employment law. Our telephony and digital services are designed to meet the needs of modern frameworks and allow rapid upgrades.

Tuesday Talks: Your Weekly Insight into Primary Care

Stay up to date with the latest developments in primary care with Tuesday Talks — our weekly series for healthcare professionals. Each episode highlights current industry news, NHS policy changes, and what these mean for general practice.

We also showcase how General Practice Solutions (GPS) is supporting practices with innovative services designed to meet today’s challenges. Whether you need expert commentary or practical guidance, Tuesday Talks provides timely, relevant content to keep you informed and prepared.

Watch the latest episode below and stay ahead in a fast-changing healthcare landscape.

Workforce Wednesdays: Practical HR Insights for Primary Care

Workforce challenges continue to shape the daily reality of primary care. Workforce Wednesdays is our weekly series exploring the HR issues that matter most to NHS practices — from absence management and contractual changes to employment law updates and staff wellbeing.

In each episode, you will find clear, practical guidance to help practice leaders manage staffing pressures with confidence. The content addresses both immediate concerns and longer-term workforce strategies, offering insights tailored specifically to the primary care setting.

Watch the latest episode to access up-to-date HR guidance designed to strengthen and support your team.

Thoughtful Thursday: Celebrating Primary Care Positivity

Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday, our weekly series celebrating the uplifting and inspiring moments from across primary care. In addition, each episode highlights stories of innovation, kindness, and community spirit that together showcase the very best of general practice.

This week, you will discover a moving story of compassion and real-world impact; moreover, it serves as a reminder of the dedication and resilience at the heart of our sector.

Ultimately, Thoughtful Thursday is a must-watch for anyone who believes in the power of care.