GP practices across Lanarkshire are set to run additional opening hours this festive period, improving access to urgent care and helping relieve pressure on other NHS services.
Many GP practices across Lanarkshire will run additional winter hours on Friday 26 December 2025, Friday 2 January 2026, and on several Saturdays from 27 December through to 31 January, improving access to urgent GP care during peak winter demand.
The extra GP capacity forms part of NHS Lanarkshire’s winter planning arrangements and is designed to ensure patients can still access timely care when demand is traditionally higher, including around public holidays and weekends.
GP practices offering additional hours will provide support for urgent and reactive care needs, helping patients who require advice, assessment or treatment that cannot safely wait until routine services resume. This includes face-to-face appointments, telephone consultations and, where appropriate, video consultations.
By increasing GP availability during busy winter periods, NHS Lanarkshire aims to help patients receive the right care in the right place, while reducing avoidable pressure on out-of-hours services and hospital emergency departments.
Mark Russell, Medical Director, South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Winter places significant pressure on health and care services, particularly around public holidays. Providing additional GP hours helps ensure patients can continue to access urgent care from primary care teams during these busy periods.
“These additional hours support people to be seen and treated closer to home, while helping to reduce pressure on out-of-hours services and emergency departments. We would encourage patients to plan ahead, use GP services appropriately, and follow advice on how to access care during the winter months.”
Winter is one of the most challenging times for the NHS, with increased demand due to seasonal illness. Additional GP hours provide an important layer of support, ensuring patients with urgent health needs can be assessed by primary care professionals.
Using GP practices, community pharmacies and other local NHS services appropriately over winter helps ensure care is available for those who need it most.
Further information about GP winter access arrangements is available on the NHS Lanarkshire website:
https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/your-health/winter-health/gp/
