Primary Care Networks
Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are collections of individual GP practices which remain independently responsible for delivery of their contracts; they’re not new organisations. PCNs are created by a practice (or practices) signing up to this new aspect of the GP contract, which is discretionary and offered to all practices in England. In Morecambe Bay there are eight PCNs of various sizes. Formed in mid-2019, all but one practice have taken on the PCN work within BHCP.
Primary care networks build on the core of current primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care. Clinicians describe this as a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively care for the people and communities they serve. Where emerging primary care networks are in place in parts of the country, there are clear benefits for patients and clinicians.
Watch the short animation that explains the concept of primary care networks (PCNs) and how this new way of working enables health and other services to work together to provide better access for patients.
Primary Care Network FAQ's
Please find below a number of frequently asked questions about Primary Care Networks that have come through various engagement sessions. If your question is not listed below, you can send an email to the Primary Care Network national team who will share a response.
- First iteration (opens in a new window): Published in April 2019, these questions focus on topics including general background, working arrangements, funding and contracting, PCN set up and governance, PCN development support, wider system and future planning and further information/next steps.
- Second iteration (opens in a new window): Publish in May 2019, these questions focus on topics including PCN set up and governance, further detail on funding and contracting, federations, PCN development support and estates.
- Third iteration (opens in a new window): published in July 2019, these questions focus on topics including PCN budgets, workforce, set up and governance, further detail on funding and contracting, federations, PCN development support and estates.