Published on 20 August 2020

On 1 July 2019, GP practices across England began working with other practices in their local area in groups called Primary Care Networks (PCNs). 

PCNs were announced as part of NHS England’s Long Term Plan in January 2019. They have been put in place to improve and extend the range of services that are available in the community and join up the care that is provided from different organisations.

It is expected that by practices working together with a range of local providers, including community services, social care and the voluntary sector, they will be able to make resources go further.

Each PCN will look after approximately 30,000 – 50,000 patients, although some may have slightly more or fewer patients than that. PCNs will be to offer care on a scale which is small enough for patients to get the continuous and personalised care they value, but large enough to be resilient through working in partnership with others in the local health and care system. 

By 2023/24, PCNs nationally are expecting to see £1.799 billion come into primary care through the national Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES), which is an extension of the core GP contract and must be offered to all practices. 

The investment includes funding to support the operation of PCNs and to help fund additional staff, via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. The five reimbursable schemes are: clinical pharmacists, social prescribing link workers, physician associates, first contact physiotherapists and first contact community paramedics.

Warrington Primary Care Networks

In Warrington, we are fully committed to ensuring sustainable care for our residents, and that general practice is at the heart of this approach.

Warrington’s 26 GP practices have been working together in geographical “Clusters” since 2015, and this renewed direction of travel will look to further develop those foundations.

Warrington CCG supported the five applications from Networks and the appointment of five clinical directors to lead work across the member practices as follows:

Warrington GP practices will remain independent, and patients will continue to be registered at their existing GP practice, acting as the main point of contact for their care.

However, each PCN will be responsible for deciding how to provide the right care, at the right time for their total registered patients. For example, this could include sharing health professionals between practices or offering appointments at a different practice in the Network to improve patient access – especially if that practice specialises in an area of care they need. Prior to any decisions being made, each PCN will work with their patient participation group (PPG) and will engage with their patient population to help shape delivery of services.

Read more about the benefits of Primary Care Networks.