£140 million boost to urgent care to ease winter pressures on NHS
The UK government is allocating £140 million to fund 14 urgent care schemes and open 25 additional sites to address winter pressures on the NHS, including new treatment centres and ambulance upgrades.
The government will invest nearly £140 million in 14 new urgent care schemes across England, including urgent treatment centres, same-day emergency care services, ambulance fleets, and emergency department upgrades. These measures aim to increase frontline capacity as the NHS faces one of its most challenging winters following record summer activity. The funding follows a summer of extreme heat and high demand, with seasonal illnesses expected to further strain services during the colder months.
An additional 25 new or expanded urgent care sites, announced in April, will open for winter to provide further capacity. The investment builds on earlier preparations, including £2 billion allocated for urgent care capital projects until 2030 and £1.5 billion for urgent maintenance across NHS facilities. The government emphasises the need to support staff and reduce pressure on emergency departments while ensuring patients receive timely care.
Preventive measures are also being expanded, including the Pharmacy First scheme, which now supports a wider range of common conditions, and enhanced GP access through evening, weekend, and out-of-hours appointments. More community pharmacies are offering flu vaccinations this year, with eligibility extended to include vulnerable groups such as people experiencing homelessness.
Digital tools are being introduced to simplify vaccination booking for parents, schools, and teams, with over 7.4 million flu vaccinations already delivered in England by 11 October. NHS leaders are prioritising easing hospital pressures, improving patient flow, and supporting care closer to home to manage high demand during the winter season.