Primary Care Networks - plans for 2021/22 and 2022/23

Primary Care Networks – plans for 2021/22 and 2022/23
NHS England 24 August 2021

• Plans for the gradual introduction of new service requirements for Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and confirm how PCNs will access the funding available for their activities through the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) across the second half of 2021/22 and 2022/23. Five areas of focus for PCNs over the coming 18 months are identified. These are:
• I) Improving prevention and tackling health inequalities in the delivery of primary care
• II) Supporting better patient outcomes in the community through proactive primary care
• III) Supporting improved patient access to primary care services
• IV) Delivering better outcomes for patients on medication
• V) Helping create a more sustainable NHS
• Annex A sets out requirements around CVD prevention and disease, tackling health inequalities, anticipatory care and personalised care.
• Annex B outlines the Investment and Impact Fund 2021/22 and 2022/23
• Annex C summarises the 5 key objectives for PCNs 2021/22 and 2022/23

Primary Care networks: two years on

Primary care networks: two years on
NHS Confederation 2 August 2021

• A report on the progress made by primary care networks and the challenges they have faced, two years since their creation. This report is based on a series of engagement sessions, hosted by the PCN Network, and a survey of more than 150 PCN clinical directors and PCN managers.

Digital Innovation for Future-proofing Primary Care

Digital Innovation for Future-proofing Primary Care
Push Doctor July 2021

• This report explores how primary care networks (PCNs) might use digital solutions to create a more sustainable future. 
• Free registration is required to download this report.

Inclusion Health Self Assessment Tool for Primary Care Networks

Inclusion Health Self Assessment Tool for Primary Care Networks
Friends, Families and Travellers

• This online tool will help PCNs to assess their engagement with Inclusion Health groups. These are the groups identified as experiencing the worst health inequalities in the UK. The tool consists of five sections and takes around 10 minutes to complete and provides with a unique and tailored guide which will help the PCN to embed action on tackling health inequalities into its everyday activities.

RCGP Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) QI project

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) QI project
RCGP

• In 2019 the RCGP, in collaboration with NICE and the Health Foundation, were commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a series of quality improvement (QI) modules and guidance to form part of QOF. Ten modules were produced in this phase of work.
• In 2021 the RCGP has continued to support general practice carry out this QOF activity by producing learning material for the QOF QI module topics supporting people with learning disability and early diagnosis of cancer. 
• Additionally, guidance has been produced to support effective and sustainable QI within a primary care network (PCN).

PCNs and place-based working: addressing health inequalities in a Covid-19 world

Primary care networks and place-based working: addressing health inequalities in a Covid-19 world
Health Creation Alliance April 2021

• This report provides fresh insights from those working to address health inequalities outside the NHS about how primary care, enabled by PCNs, might access the breadth of potential solutions that are possible when they work in partnership with their communities and local partners.

PCNs and place-based working: addressing health inequalities in a Covid-19 world

Primary care networks and place-based working: addressing health inequalities in a Covid-19 world
Health Creation Alliance April 2021

• This report provides fresh insights from those working to address health inequalities outside the NHS about how primary care, enabled by PCNs, might access the breadth of potential solutions that are possible when they work in partnership with their communities and local partners.

Exploring commissioners’ understandings of early PCN development

Exploring commissioners' understandings of early Primary Care Network development: qualitative interview study.
Br J Gen Pract. 2021 Mar 9: BJGP.2020.0917. doi: 10.3399/BJGP.2020.0917.

• Interviews with CCG employees involved in PCN establishment conlcude that CCGs are well placed to understand the complexities of local systems and facilitate PCNs and working practices between wider system partners. The prescriptive, contractual nature of the policy goals set out in the NHS Long Term Plan has led to local challenges, trying to ensure local good practices are not lost during implementation.

Health Creation: How can Primary Care Networks succeed in reducing health inequalities?

How can Primary Care Networks succeed in reducing health inequalities?
Health Creation Alliance, RCGP February 2021

• Report from a series of multi-stakeholder events held between February and September 2020 which explored the following questions:
• How can general practice and primary care work differently with communities and local partners to reduce health inequalities?
• What can PCNs do to enable and create the conditions for practices to work differently with local partners to reduce health inequalities?

Early evidence of the development of primary care networks in England: a rapid evaluation study.

Early evidence of the development of primary care networks in England: a rapid evaluation study.
NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research Topic Report; 10 November 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3310/hsdr-tr-129678

• This study examined the early implementation of primary care networks, especially what has helped or hindered progress, how they operate in relation to pre-existing collaborations, and issues for rural networks. 
• This research revealed that the networks made good progress in their first nine months, forming their new organisation, recruiting staff, and preparing plans to start more services in future years. Although they made considerable progress, primary care networks also faced challenges in their first months, including how to ensure sufficient management support, some tension in trying to agree on the goals and direction of the networks, and concerns about excessive workload.

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service 2020/21 and updates

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service 2020/21
NHS England 31 March 2020 updated 17 September 2020

• Updated Network Contract DES for 2020/21.
• The amended DES introduces three substantive changes to the 2020/21 Network Contract DES: flexibility for the clinical lead under the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service requirements to be a non-GP; the introduction of two new reimbursable roles under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS); and the introduction of an Investment and Impact Fund worth £24.25m. For details see the covering letter.

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) Contract Specification 2020/21 – Primary Care Network Entitlements and Requirements

NHS England 31 March 2020 updated 17 September 2020

• This document sets out how commissioners must offer to primary medical services contractors the opportunity to participate in the Network Contract DES; the eligibility requirements and process for primary medical services contractors to participate in the Network Contract DES; and in relation to the Network Contract DES, the rights and obligations.  The document has been updated to include the introduction of two new reimbursable roles and the introduction of the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) from October 2020.

Briefing: Amendments to the network contract DES 2020/21
NHS Confederation 22 September 2020

• A summary of the amendments made to the primary care network contract directed enhanced service (DES) for 2020/21. The amendments apply from 1 October 2020.

Mental health and primary care networks: understanding the opportunities

Mental health and primary care networks: understanding the opportunities
Kings Fund, Centre for Mental Health 23 July 2020

• This report explores the opportunities the emergence of Primary Care Networks creates for improving the support and treatment provided to people with mental health needs in primary care.

Primary care networks: One year on

Primary care networks: One year on
NHS Confederation 15 July 2020

• An assessment by the PCN Network of PCN progress and challenges across the country during their first year. It finds that, while the picture nationally is one of variation, progress has been made in several areas. Many PCNs have significantly expanded their use of digital platforms, allowing more patients to be seen during Covid-19, and built strong new relationships with other partners across primary care. 

What’s happened to primary care networks and other forms of primary and community care collaboration?

One year on and one pandemic later: what’s happened to primary care networks and other forms of primary and community care collaboration?
NHS Confederation 13 July 2020

• "One year has passed since the deadline for all GP practices to form PCNs. The interface between primary and community care has evolved in different ways across the country, and this is all true of the response to COVID-19. Here we revisit the range of partnerships that community service providers are forming with primary care colleagues, and the support that trusts can offer to PCNs specifically."

How do we secure more effective place-based primary care networks for the long-term

How do we secure more effective place-based primary care networks for the long-term
Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University May 2020

• This discussion paper considers how local partners in health, care and wellbeing services across the UK have responded to the coronavirus pandemic so far. He argues that to build effective place-based primary care networks on the ground for the longer term, partners will need to work together now to drive through further changes in shared services, systems, commitments and leadership.

The Network Contract Direct Enhanced Service: benefits and challenges

The Network Contract Direct Enhanced Service: benefits and challenges
NHS Confederation 15 May 2020

• A briefing on the benefits and challenges of PCNs, to assist practices in making an informed decision about their involvement in the PCN DES.

Primary Care Network Briefing Paper for VCSE

Primary Care Network Briefing Paper for VCSE
National Voices February 2020

• The resource explains a new way in which health and care services are being organised locally across England and explores how voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations might supply knowledge, expertise and training to help PCNs develop.

General Medical Services (GMS) Ready Reckoner 2020/21

General Medical Services (GMS) Ready Reckoner 2020/21
NHS England 26 February 2020

• This ready reckoner has been produced by NHS England and NHS Improvement in partnership with the BMA General Practitioners Committee (GPC) and is intended to provide an indication of the changes in income streams that may affect a GMS practice and PCN from 1 April 2020.

Changes to the GP contract in 2020/21 (February 2020)

Changes to the GP contract in 2020/21 (February 2020)
Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee 17 February 020

• This PSNC Briefing provides a summary of the changes to the General Medical Services contract in 2020/21, which are of most relevance to community pharmacy, including LPC officers and members and PCN pharmacy leads.

Patients Registered at a GP Practice February 2020

Patients Registered at a GP Practice February 2020
NHS Digital 13 February 2020

• A snapshot in time on 1 February from the GP Payments system.
• Geographical granularity: CCGs, GP practices, Regions, STPs. Includes a supplementary spreadsheet which includes information about GP practices in PCNs and their parent CCG.