Primary Care Networks

GP practices have begun working together alongside community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in the local area to form Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

Primary Care Networks signal a significant change in the way practices interact not only with each other, but the wider health and social care system.

This will enable care to be delivered to a defined patient population, in a different way to meet the needs of that population. This will be focused on prevention and personalisation of care, making best use of resources collectively.

Core characteristics of a PCN:

• Partnerships of Practices working together and with other local health and care providers
• PCNs are more than a collection of practices.
• Typically, a defined patient population of at least 30,000 to 50,000.
• Providing care in different ways to match different people’s needs
• Focusing on prevention of illness and personalised care
• Assess population health needs, making best use of collective resources
• Greater resilience, more sustainable workload