Primary Care Networks (PCNs)

Since the NHS was created in 1948, the UK population has grown by 20 million and people are living an average of 14 years longer. More people are living with complex, long term conditions which means they need to see a healthcare professional more often. To meet these growing demands, GP practices are working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

PCNs enable patients to receive more proactive, co-ordinated and personalised healthcare that’s closer to their home. Based on GP registered lists of around 30,000 to 50,000, PCNs are small enough to provide the personal care valued by both patients, but big enough to bring economies of scale through better partnership between practices and other healthcare providers.

Primary care networks are thinking about the wider health of their population, taking a proactive approach to thinking about the needs of their local population to identify those who need help most. PCN teams are working hard to support people with more complex needs, providing proactive and anticipatory care.

Each PCN has a team that includes strategic and operational support – usually there is one or more Clinical Directors (a GP Partner from a member practice) who is supported by a Network Manager and sometimes a range of other administrative staff.

PCNs are also able to recruit a diverse skill mix into general practice, through recruitment of roles such as First Contact Physiotherapists, Clinical Pharmacists, Mental Health Practitioners and Social Prescribing Link Workers. Introducing a greater skill mix means that you get more access to a wider range of support to keep healthy and independent. There are also doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals working together with shared aims to prevent patients from developing long term health issues – part of a wider campaign to make people aware of the importance of taking better care of themselves to avoid illness.

Find out more about the roles that are available in our PCN

What benefits do Primary Care Networks bring to patients?

· They offer a larger range of care services that will be close to patient’s homes, as well as improved access

· PCNs merge with a wider range of health and community services

· Patients will be able to receive support for a more complicated conditions, and will have access to the health and care services that can support them

· Patients will be able to have more of a role in making decisions around their own health and the care they receive.