How can I get a GP appointment in North Cumbria?

The NHS advises using online services to book GP appointments, which can help avoid the rush.

What is the NHS doing for winter readiness?

The NHS has increased planning for winter and is encouraging more home treatments and preventative health measures.

Why is flu vaccine uptake important for the NHS?

Lower flu vaccine uptake can increase pressure on the NHS during busy winter periods.

Home / Health / NHS Faces Winter Strain: Boss Urges Online Use

NHS Faces Winter Strain: Boss Urges Online Use

25 Nov, 2025

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Summary

NHS boss advises using online services to ease GP appointment access.
More home treatment could prevent corridor trolley situations.
Flu vaccine uptake is lower than hoped for this winter season.

NHS Faces Winter Strain: Boss Urges Online Use

NHS leaders are preparing for a busy winter period, with a senior medical officer advising patients to leverage online services to secure GP appointments more easily. This strategy aims to reduce the current "scramble" for available slots and potentially decrease the number of patients being treated in hospital corridors.

The chief medical officer for the Integrated Care Board in the north-east of England and north Cumbria emphasized that while extensive planning has occurred, the service still anticipates high demand. He also pointed to preventative health measures and a desire for more treatment to occur at home.

Discussions also touched upon the seasonal readiness of healthcare services, a flu vaccine uptake rate that has fallen short of targets, and the broader importance of proactive health initiatives to manage patient flow and well-being during the colder months.