Every winter, GP surgeries prepare for the seasonal surge.
More patient calls. More appointment requests. More staff pressure. But there’s one system that often bears the silent strain… the phone system.
When your phones slow down, patients notice.
When they fail, the impact spreads quickly across your team, your waiting room, and your reputation.
This is when your communications need to stay strongest.
The Hidden Winter Pressure
The average GP practice is now responsible for nearly 9,800 patients, up from 7,800 a decade ago.
NHS Digital – “Patients Registered at a GP Practice”, 2024.
Across primary care, surgeries are being asked to do more with less. NHS Digital’s data shows that average GP practices are now responsible for nearly 9,800 patients each, up from 7,800 a decade ago.
Add to that the surge in seasonal illness and the increased need for remote consultations, flu season can increase call volumes by 30–40% for some GP practices. That means more patients chasing appointments, checking results, and seeking urgent advice.
If your phone system isn’t built to flex with demand, queues grow, frustration builds, and staff stress rises. Traditional systems simply weren’t designed for today’s connected care model.
You wouldn’t send your clinical team into flu season without the right protection. Your phone system deserves the same resilience.
Around 10% of patients seeking GP care turn instead to urgent-care or A&E services when they can’t get through to their surgery, placing additional strain on hospitals and increasing system-wide costs.
The Health Foundation – “Access to general practice: impacts on wider NHS demand”, 2023.
Cloud Telephony: The Cure for Communication Bottlenecks
- Divert calls instantly to mobiles or alternative sites
- Set up call queues and hunt groups with ease
- Manage busy periods in real time through a simple online portal
- Access performance reports and call data at a glance
Fully Integrated, Secure and NHS-Approved
Connect isn’t just flexible, it’s compliant and future-proof.
As a recognised supplier on the NHS England Advanced Telephony Better Purchasing Framework, Agilico helps practices modernise their telephony in line with national guidance.
We also integrate with EMIS, allowing reception teams and clinicians to view patient data, appointment details, and call history within the same workflow.
That means faster, more informed responses and a better patient experience from the first ring.
Security and data protection come as standard.
All communications are encrypted and hosted in the UK, giving you full peace of mind.
A Proven Partner in Primary Care
Our work with surgeries like Stovell House Surgery shows the value of a trusted technology partner.
”“Having been with Agilico for many years they have grown with us as the demand on General Practice has increased with new technology and innovations allowing us to meet patient expectations and to work within NHSE’s remit.”
Practice ManagerStovell House Surgery
We understand the pressure points of primary care.
From initial consultation through to deployment and support, we help practices move forward confidently, without downtime, disruption, or complexity.
Keeping Your Practice Connected
Read more about Agilico Connect for GP Surgeries or download our guide.
Keep Your Practice Healthy This Flu Season
Now is the time to make sure your communications are fit for winter.
Your patients depend on it.
Your staff deserve it.
With Agilico Connect, you can stay connected, supported, and compliant. Even at peak demand.
Stay healthy. Stay connected. Choose Connect.
