Primary care networks

Primary care networks (PCNs) are an important part of the NHS long-term plan and bring general practices together to work at scale. Since 1 July 2019, all except a handful of GP practices in England have come together to form around 1,300 geographical networks.

Our work explores what a PCN is, how these networks are developing and their impact on the way services are delivered. We examine the national support available to networks as they progress, as well as the challenges and opportunities this latest form of GP collaboration presents.

Highlights

Red stethascope teaser

The 2020/21 update to the GP contract explained

NHS England and the British Medical Association’s general practice committee have negotiated an update to the five-year GP contract framework published in January 2019. This explainer outlines the changes and explains what they mean for the future of general practice.

Remote working toolkit for general practices and primary care networks

Remote working toolkit for general practices and primary care networks

As remote working continues to be a reality for many, what are the implications for primary care? This guide outlines what’s needed to make remote working effective and inclusive for all staff.

Primary care networks explained

A key part of the NHS long-term plan, primary care networks (PCNs) will bring general practices together to work at scale. But what are they? How are they funded and held accountable? And what difference will they make? Beccy Baird explains the latest form of GP collaboration.

Blogs and articles

What enabled rapid digital change in primary care during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Primary care adopted digital technology at pace during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Beccy Baird reflects on research looking at why and how this was possible – and how positive changes can be sustained.

What are we learning about leadership development in primary care networks?

What have we learnt from our work supporting the development of primary care networks across England? Beccy Baird, Kiran Chauhan and Tricia Boyle share their learning about what groups find useful and pose some questions for PCN leaders and clinical commissioning groups who are thinking about development needs.

What is Covid-19 revealing about innovation in the NHS?

Innovation in the NHS has historically been notoriously slow. Ben Collins considers how the Covid-19 pandemic has allowed the system and its staff to go further and faster, and what this might mean for the future.

GPs condemn new specifications for primary care networks

This article was first published on the BMJ website. General practices have been working together in primary care networks (PCNs) for more than a year, but now growing numbers of GPs are threatening to pull out of PCNs and the associated contract. Richard Murray explains how this situation has unfolded and suggests some potential solutions.

How has general practice responded to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak?

General practice has seen an incredible transformation in the space of just a few weeks, in response to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Beccy Baird reflects on the pace and scale of change, and whether the innovations are here to stay.

What can we learn from the updated GP contract?

After an intense debate between NHS England and the BMA, an updated GP contract has finally been agreed. Richard Murray outlines four reasons why the contract marks a significant moment for health and care in general as well as general practice.

A two-way street: primary care networks and integrated care systems

As primary care networks and integrated care systems develop, Anna Charles considers how their relationship might evolve to strengthen the voice of primary and community care and join up local services.

Caution needed over ambitions for new primary care networks

It is critical that primary care networks are not set up to fail by taking on too many tasks too quickly.

What’s the role of general practice in addressing population health?

Tom Beaney and Luke Allen explore the unique role GPs have to play in improving population health, but warn that a lack of capacity and resources limits the influence they can have.

Digital-first primary care: helpful disruptor or unnecessary disruption?

Beccy Baird considers the pros and cons of digital-first primary care and argues that digitally enabled approaches to improving access must be woven into a holistic model of general practice.

An alternative day in the life of a GP

What would a day in the life of a GP working in an innovative model of general practice look like? We pull together a typical day based on the experiences of GPs we met in researching Innovative models of general practice.

Primary care networks and mental health

How will mental health fit into primary care networks? With primary care providing the majority of NHS mental health support, Beccy Baird and Andy Bell from the Centre for Mental Health look at the opportunities and challenges these networks will face in improving the mental as well as physical health of the communities they serve.

Primary care networks and community health services: further, faster!

As primary care services come together under the new primary care networks, Richard Murray reviews progress to date and what’s next for general practice, from integration and workforce to technology and the estate.

Primary care networks and the deprivation challenge: Are we about to widen the gap?

The newly emerging primary care networks provide an opportunity to tackle health inequalities in England but, as Rebecca Fisher and Beccy Baird explain, they will have to be careful to avoid perpetuating the problem.

Reports

Innovative models of general practice

Innovative models of general practice

We look at innovative models of general practice from the UK and other countries and identify key design features we believe will be important in designing effective GP services in the future.

Volunteering in general practice

Volunteering in general practice: opportunities and insights

Interest is growing in the contribution that volunteering can make in health and social care. This paper examines the ways in which volunteers are involved with, and are contributing to, general practice.

Support for leaders

Building primary care teams remotely

Working out how to embed new roles into general practice teams will be crucial to staff recruitment and retention. Beccy Baird considers the opportunities and challenges remote working offers for achieving this.

Five tips for successfully leading a primary care network

Clinical leaders of primary care networks face both challenges and opportunities to bring people together to drive real change. Beccy Baird and Tricia Boyle suggest five ways to help successfully lead a primary care network.

How to build effective teams in general practice

How to build effective teams in general practice

This guide draws on insights from our research, policy analysis and leadership practice to outline ways in which practices can create and sustain effective teams, as they come together to form primary care networks.

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Primary care networks explained

A key part of the NHS long-term plan, primary care networks (PCNs) will bring general practices together to work at scale. But what are they? How are they funded and held accountable? And what difference will they make? Beccy Baird explains the latest form of GP collaboration.

Red stethascope teaser

The 2020/21 update to the GP contract explained

NHS England and the British Medical Association’s general practice committee have negotiated an update to the five-year GP contract framework published in January 2019. This explainer outlines the changes and explains what they mean for the future of general practice.

Primary care networks and mental health

How will mental health fit into primary care networks? With primary care providing the majority of NHS mental health support, Beccy Baird and Andy Bell from the Centre for Mental Health look at the opportunities and challenges these networks will face in improving the mental as well as physical health of the communities they serve.