Primary Care Weekly Update UK: Week commencing 5 January 2026

This Weekly primary care update outlines the key pressures affecting general practice as services return to full operational capacity following the festive period. The first full working week of January consistently brings a sharp increase in patient demand alongside a rapid rise in administrative workload. This Weekly primary care update reflects the renewed pressure on access, workflow stability and workforce resilience across primary care.

Winter demand and patient access pressures

General practice continues to experience sustained winter demand. Seasonal respiratory illness remains prevalent, while many patients delayed seeking care over the Christmas period. These delayed presentations now add to existing workload, alongside increasing complexity in long-term condition management.

Same-day appointment demand remains high across many practices. Telephone queues lengthen during peak periods, particularly during early mornings. Reception and care navigation teams face significant pressure at these times. Practices must balance urgent access with continuity of care while protecting clinicians from unsafe workload levels. This Weekly primary care update highlights how prolonged winter demand makes this balance increasingly difficult to maintain.

Digital triage and online consultation tools remain central to demand management. However, patient engagement continues to vary. Some patients submit online requests and then contact the practice by telephone, which increases duplication of work. This adds pressure to triage systems and reception teams. Practices are reviewing triage rules, escalation pathways and appointment allocation to prioritise clinical risk and maintain patient safety during periods of high demand.

Workforce capacity and post-holiday resilience

Workforce resilience remains a significant challenge at the start of January. Teams return from annual leave with limited spare capacity, while sickness absence continues to affect both clinical and administrative staff. Reception and administrative roles remain particularly exposed, with reduced staffing directly impacting telephony, document processing and patient communication.

Practice managers are focusing on rota stability and staff wellbeing, while setting clearer workload expectations. Many practices are reviewing escalation plans and contingency arrangements to ensure that essential services continue during staffing shortfalls. This Weekly primary care update reflects the increasing reliance on flexible workforce solutions to reduce pressure on permanent staff and limit the risk of burnout.

The cumulative impact of staff absence often becomes more visible during this period. Backlogs increase quickly when capacity drops, which places further strain on remaining staff. Clear prioritisation and strong operational oversight remain essential to maintain safe and effective services.

Clinical coding, document workflow and backlog management

January consistently exposes backlogs in document processing and clinical coding. Hospital correspondence volumes increase, with large numbers of discharge summaries and investigation results requiring timely review and accurate coding. Delays at this stage can increase clinical risk, particularly where follow-up actions are required.

Practices face pressure to clear backlogs efficiently while maintaining high standards of coding accuracy and data quality. Errors or omissions can undermine patient safety and affect performance reporting. Many practices are reviewing workflow prioritisation, validation rates and access permissions to ensure staff can work effectively without unnecessary delay.

Structured workflow management plays a critical role in reducing risk. Clear oversight helps prevent missed actions and supports confidence in the clinical record. This Weekly primary care update reflects how January often reveals weaknesses in document handling processes, prompting practices to identify improvements that strengthen long-term resilience.

Telephony demand and patient communication

Telephony demand remains high across primary care as patients seek appointments, advice and test results following the holiday period. Extended waiting times remain a common challenge and can affect both patient satisfaction and staff morale.

Reception teams manage high call volumes throughout the day, with demand peaking in the morning. Many practices are reviewing call data to better understand demand patterns and assess whether existing staffing models remain appropriate. This analysis supports informed decisions around rota design and call-handling processes.

Clear patient communication remains essential. Consistent messaging about access routes, response times and appointment availability can help manage expectations and reduce repeat contact. Practices that communicate clearly often experience more manageable call volumes and safer service delivery.

Information governance and operational compliance

The start of the year prompts renewed focus on information governance and operational compliance. Practices are reviewing system access, user permissions and audit trails to ensure accuracy and completeness. Leavers and role changes require prompt action to maintain data security and compliance with UK GDPR and NHS information governance standards.

Access management becomes more complex when staffing changes occur or temporary support is introduced. Clear processes, strong documentation and effective oversight help mitigate risk. Practices must balance data security with operational efficiency during periods of increased pressure.

Operational compliance remains closely linked to workforce stability. Reduced staffing can increase the risk of error, making robust governance frameworks essential during winter pressures.

National policy and system context

Primary care continues to operate within a challenging national environment. Expectations around access, performance and winter resilience remain high. Communications from NHS England continue to emphasise timely access, safe workload management and effective use of available workforce capacity.

Integrated Care Systems maintain oversight of winter planning and recovery activity. Practices must demonstrate adaptability and strong governance while balancing national expectations with local capacity and staff wellbeing.

How General Practice Solutions can help

General Practice Solutions supports primary care organisations during periods of increased demand through flexible, scalable and contract-free services. Telephony support helps practices manage high call volumes, reduce waiting times and protect in-house reception teams from excessive pressure.

Clinical coding and document workflow support enables practices to address backlogs efficiently and accurately. Experienced associates work within existing clinical systems to process correspondence promptly, protect data quality and reduce clinical risk. This support is particularly valuable at the start of January, when accumulated work from the festive period must be cleared quickly.

General Practice Solutions also strengthens workforce resilience by providing trained associates who integrate quickly into practice operations. Robust governance, access management and information governance processes support safe and compliant delivery. This Weekly primary care update demonstrates how centralising key administrative functions allows practices to refocus on patient care, staff wellbeing and sustainable service delivery throughout the winter period and beyond.

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, and therefore Workforce Wednesdays provides a weekly series that explores the HR issues that matter most to NHS practices — from absence management and contractual changes through to employment law updates and staff wellbeing.

In each episode, you will not only find clear, practical guidance but also step-by-step support to help practice leaders manage staffing pressures with confidence. The content addresses both immediate concerns, such as day-to-day rota gaps, and longer-term workforce strategies, while also offering insights tailored specifically to the primary care setting.

Finally, by watching the latest episode, you can access up-to-date HR guidance that is designed to strengthen and support your team, and at the same time build a more resilient workforce for the future.

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.