What Are Primary Care Networks (PCN)?

Primary care networks (PCNs) are groups of GP practices working closely together with other healthcare staff and organisations to provide more joined up care to local communities. Working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas, PCNs build on existing primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised and more integrated health and social care for patients.

PCNs are able to provide a more extensive range of primary care services to patients, primarily by funding a wider set of staff roles - for example Social Prescribers, Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Care Coordinators and Clinical Pharmacists to name a few.

PCNs are led by clinical directors who are medically qualified. They usually serve communities of 30,000 to 50,000 people. PCNs can enhance their service offerings and manage patient demand more effectively without compromising other areas of care.

Click the below link to watch a short animation that explains the concept of PCNs and how this new way of working enables health and other services to work together to provide better access for patients. Primary Care Networks Animation

The Colte Partnership PCN contains 8 practices with approximately 80,000 patients.