AROUND 32,000 extra GP appointments will be made available across Essex this winter as health bosses prepare for increased pressure on NHS services.

However, they are not sure it will be enough and cannot say with full confidence that demand will be met.

NHS Essex says it is investing £1.1million in a winter access scheme which will provide an additional 8,000 appointments every month from November until February 2027.

The appointments will be shared across primary care networks in Essex, Southend and Thurrock based on the size of their populations.

The boost is designed to make it easier for patients to receive care during the busiest months of the year and reduce pressure elsewhere in the health service.

Extra appointments will be delivered through participating primary care networks and will include access to a range of health professionals at GP practices, including nurses and physiotherapists.

Beverley Flowers, executive director of neighbourhood health, said: "Access to primary care appointments is one of the most important things for Essex residents when they think about their health and care.

"The additional appointments over the winter months are essential to support the rise in demand we expect to see and will further open up access to a wide range of health and care professionals available at GP practices, including physiotherapists and nurses.

"Alongside this we are working with Essex's voluntary and community organisations to ensure the most vulnerable people in our communities can stay well and are supported to return home when they no longer need to be in hospital."

The scheme will particularly target people considered most at risk of becoming unwell during the winter, including those living with frailty.

It forms part of a wider plan aimed at helping Essex's health and care system cope with seasonal pressures across hospitals, community services, mental health, primary care, ambulance services and social care.

The strategy seeks to prevent avoidable illness, maintain access to care and get patients home from hospital sooner, while protecting planned treatments from disruption.

However, NHS Essex has given the winter plan only a "moderate" delivery-confidence rating.

Health bosses say leadership, coordination and escalation arrangements are largely in place but have identified continuing risks from high hospital occupancy, delays in discharging patients, staff shortages and infection outbreaks.

Other measures include greater use of community services as alternatives to hospital admission and efforts to increase vaccination uptake.

NHS Essex is also working with voluntary and community organisations to support vulnerable residents to stay well and help patients return home when they no longer need hospital care.

Pressures across the health and care system will be monitored through seven-day coordination throughout the winter.