Permanent Primary Care Recruitment: A Natural Evolution in Supporting Practices

The demand for permanent primary care staff is growing. Across the NHS and wider primary care landscape, practices are under pressure to build stable, high-performing teams. While locum cover remains essential, there is a clear shift towards permanent hires in primary care that can provide consistency, leadership and long-term impact. At Vela Medical Group, supporting […]
Making ARRS Work

ARRS funding has brought meaningful change to primary care. Additional roles are now embedded across PCNs and are supporting better access, broader skill mix and more joined-up patient care. As ARRS continues to mature, the conversation is shifting from implementation to optimisation. How practices make it work alongside existing teams matters more than ever. The […]
Primary Care Trends for 2026: Why Workforce Flexibility Is Now a Survival Strategy

Primary care is operating under sustained pressure and as 2026 unfolds, that pressure is becoming less predictable and harder to plan around. This is no longer about short-term gaps or seasonal demand. Workforce flexibility is now essential for GP practices, PCNs and ICBs across the UK. ARRS Has Helped, But It Has Limits ARRS funding […]
Leading the Change in Primary Care Recruitment: The Vela Way

At Vela Medical Group, recruitment is more than a process. It is a partnership built on trust, quality and care. We are proud to be the UK’s leading recruitment consultancy dedicated exclusively to primary care, supporting practices with highly skilled nursing, mental health and AHP clinicians. Our focus allows us to understand the sector inside […]
Building Capacity in Primary Care: The Rise of the Paramedic Practitioner

Across the UK, primary care teams are feeling the pressure. Patient numbers continue to grow, appointments are harder to book and practices are under increasing strain to meet expectations. To keep services moving, many are turning to Paramedic Practitioners as a vital part of their workforce. Paramedics entering general practice bring something different. They are […]
The Evolving Role of Practice Nurses

In every GP surgery across the UK, Practice Nurses are becoming the backbone of patient care. As demand grows and the healthcare landscape evolves, these clinicians are stepping into more complex, autonomous, and essential roles than ever before. Far from just running clinics or taking bloods, Practice Nurses are now central to chronic disease management, […]
Primary Care in 2026 and Beyond: Recruitment Predictions and Strategic Hiring Insights

The challenges facing primary care today will shape the workforce of tomorrow. As we move towards 2026, the trends are clear – demand continues to rise, the GP workforce continues to shrink, and practices are having to think strategically about long-term recruitment. At Vela Medical Group, we’re already seeing the next phase of change taking […]
Workforce Crises and Opportunity Zones – Recruiting in Deprived Areas in Primary Care

The NHS faces a widening divide in access to primary care. While some regions attract strong GP coverage and multidisciplinary teams, others – often in deprived or remote communities are struggling to fill even the most essential roles. According to recent reports, several programmes designed to attract doctors to underserved areas are at risk of […]
Winter Pressures in Primary Care: How to Strengthen Your Workforce

Understanding Winter Pressures in Primary Care Winter pressures in Primary Care are one of the most consistent challenges for GP practices and Primary Care Networks across the UK. During the winter months, patient demand increases significantly, with more respiratory illnesses, urgent care appointments, and long-term condition reviews. These winter pressures make effective Primary Care recruitment […]
Maximising the 2025/26 GP Contract: What New Recruits Need to Know

The 2025/26 GP contract marks one of the most positive shifts for primary care in recent years.With additional investment, streamlined funding routes, and greater flexibility for practices, the changes are designed to strengthen the workforce, modernise access, and sustain high-quality patient care. For practices recruiting new staff and for clinicians exploring career opportunities – these […]