A key part of the NHS long-term plan, Primary Care Networks (PCNs) brings general practice together to work at scale. This added scale supports practices to improve their ability to recruit and retain staff; to manage financial and estates pressures; to provide a wider range of services to patients and to more easily integrate with the wider health and care system.

Networks are largely geographically based and, between them, aim to cover all practices within an integrated care system (ICS) boundary. ICSs bring together NHS, local authority and third sector bodies to take on responsibility for the resources and health of an area or ‘system’. Their aim is to deliver better, more integrated care for patients

NHS England sees PCNs as a key vehicle for delivering many of the commitments in its long-term plan and providing a wider range of services to patients. These contracts include structured medication reviews, enhanced health in care homes and supporting early cancer diagnosis.

In order to successfully deliver these new contracts PCNs are expected to provide a wider range of services to patients; this includes a more diverse set of staff roles than has previously been supported by many practices and will include, for example, first contact physiotherapists, physician associates, and paramedics.

There will also be improved links with community-based health teams and mental health trusts to provide services for patients with more complex needs, whilst delivering more proactive and anticipatory care.

PCNs are funded by significant new NHS monies, announced by the Prime Minister in June 2018. This includes nearly £3.5Billion of new funding for new staff between 2020 and 2024.