Wirral Primary Care Networks

Primary Care Networks represent the best opportunity to transform ourselves and create a solid, long-lasting integrated model of care in Wirral. However, we understand the challenges that practices face in their transition to a PCN, and in implementing the changes included in the NHS Long-Term Plan and GP Contract 2019.

At Primary Care Wirral we would like to enable doctors and managers to focus on the day to day operations of the practice and continue improving patient wellbeing. That is why our small but experienced team of Primary Care professionals is working to support practices deliver the strategic direction of their PCNs and develop strong multi-disciplinary teams.

We are already successfully collaborating with PCNs in Wirral and we are looking forward to helping you too. Would like to know more? Get in touch!

PCW Offering for PCNs

PCN Social Prescribers Link Workers

We have developed a Social Prescribing Service to help Wirral PCNs gain streamlined access to local-based Wellbeing Practitioners (Social Prescribing Link Workers), with enhanced skills around patient support, in particular those with long term conditions and cancer.

PCN Clinical Pharmacist

As part of our partnership with WUTH, we provide Clinical Pharmacists services for local PCNs. This alternative option to straight recruitment helps GP Networks reduce their HR efforts and the need for upskilling existing staff.

Wirral PCNs News

What are PCNs?

Primary Care Networks are groups of local general practices that work together to deliver integrated healthcare services within their communities.

PCNs are organised around neighbourhoods and cover a population of between 30,000 and 50,000 people.

Practices remain independent, but share funding for specific staff roles, including: clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, physiotherapists, physician associates and paramedics.

Wirral PCNs Timeline

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2014 / 2019 - ANTECEDENTS

22 Oct 2014 - NHS Five Year Forward Review

Introduced a vision for greater collaboration between GP practices, and collaboration between practices and wider community: health services, hospitals and social care.

 

NHS Five Year Forward View

April 2016 - General Practice Forward Review

Introduced a voluntary Multispeciality Community Provider (MCP) contract to integrate general practice services with wider health care services. GPs were encouraged to work collectively to provide extended access.

 

31 March 2017 - NHS Next steps on the five year forward view

 Announced the intention to ‘encourage’ practices to work together in networks of between 30,000 and 50,000 patients.

 

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2019 - PCNS BECOME A REALITY

7 Jan 2019 - The NHS Long Term Plan

Primary Care Networks are formally announced as one of the key changes within the NHS 10 Year Plan. For first time, formal collaboration between practices would happen under a shared network agreement and with a shared income stream for the practices that belong to the same PCN.

 

NHS Long Term Plan

31 Jan 2019 - 2019/20 GP Contract

The 2019/2020 GP Contract is designed to deliver the commitments made in the NHS 10 Year Plan. It includes details of what PCNs would be and what they might be expected to do.

 

29 March 2019 - Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service 2019/20

The focus of the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service 2019/20 is establishing networks. It includes details regarding how much money PCNs will receive and what exactly is expected from them.

 

Network Contract DES Specification

15 May 2019 - Network agreements signed and sent

Deadline for practices to organise themselves into PCNs, appoint a Clinical Director (CD) and submit their network agreement to their Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Joining a PCN is not compulsory. However, a substantial proportion of the increased funding for General Pratice will now be channelled through PCNs instead of going directly to individual practices.

June 2019 - Brighter Birkenhead PCN is officially created

Brighter Birkenhead PCN is officially agreed and signed off by NHS England.

The practices that form Brighter Birkenhead GP Network are:

  • Devaney Medical Centre
  • Hamilton Medical Centre
  • Claughton Medical Centre (Paxton)
  • Riverside Surgery
  • St Catherine’s Surgery
  • The Villa Medical Centre
  • Whetstone Medical Centre

June 2019 - Healthier South Wirral PCN is officially created

Healthier South Wirral PCN is officially agreed and signed off by NHS England.

The practices that form Healthier South Wirral GP Network are:

  • Spital Surgery
  • Civic Medical Centre
  • The Orchard Surgery
  • Allport Surgery
  • Eastham Group Practice
  • Parkfield Medical Centre
  • Sunlight Group Practice

June 2019 - Healthier West Wirral PCN is officially created

Healthier West Wirral PCN is officially agreed and signed off by NHS England.

The practices that form Healthier West Wirral GP Network are:

  • Commonfield Road Medical Centre
  • Greasby Health Centre
  • Heswall and Pensby Group Practice
  • Marine Lake Medical Practice
  • TG Medical Centre
  • West Wirral Group Practice
  • Upton Group Practice

June 2019 - Wallasey Wellbeing PCN is officially created

Wallasey Wellbeing PCN is officially agreed and signed off by NHS England.

The practices that form Healthier Wallasey Wellbeing GP Network are:

  • The Village Medical Centre
  • Sommerville Medical Centre
  • St. George’s Medical Centre
  • Liscard Group Practice
  • Manor Health Centre
  • Central Park Medical Centre

From 1 July 2019

Hiring Additional Roles

  • Clinical Pharmacist (70% ARRS)
  • Social Prescribing Link Workers (100% ARRS)

Oct 2019 - PCW & Macmillan Social Prescribing offer for PCNs

Primary Care Wirral and Wirral’s Macmillan Community Wellbeing Project design an offer to provide PCNs in Wirral with social prescription services.

This includes streamlined access to local-based Macmillan Social Prescribing Link Workers, with enhanced skills around patient support, in particular those with long term conditions and cancer.

 

Oct 2019 - PCW & WUTH Clinical Pharmacist offer for PCNs

Primary Care Wirral and WUTH expand their partnership to provide Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice to include the Primary Care Network Clinical Pharmacist role.

This is a time and cost-effective solution for PCNslooking for Clinical Pharmacists who are already qualified from an accredited training pathway.

2020

Hiring Additional Roles

  • Physician associates (70% ARRS)
  • First contact physiotherapists (70% ARRS)
  • First contact community paramedics (70% ARRS)

Delivery of Service Specifications 1 to 5 (2020/2021)

  • Structured medicines review and optimisation
  • Enhanced health in care homes
  • Anticipatory care
  • Personalised care
  • Supporting early cancer diagnosis

Jan 2020 - PCW provides three PCNs with the services of WUTH Clinical Pharmacists

Primary Care Wirral’s starts the supplying Healthier South Wirral, Brighter Birkenhead and Healthier West Wirral PCNs with the services of Clinical Pharmacists via its long-term partnership with WUTH.

Jan 2020 - PCW provides three PCNs with the services of WUTH Clinical Pharmacists

Primary Care Wirral organises the recruitment, training and management of a new team of Wellbeing Practitioners (Social Prescribing Link Workers) for Healthier South Wirral, Wallasey Wellbeing and Brighter Birkenhead. 

June 2020 - PCW recruits Health & Wellbeing Coaches for two local PCNs

Primary Care Wirral starts the recruitment, training and management of a new team of Health Coaches, for Healthier South Wirral and Healthier West Wirral.

November 2020 - PCW creates the Learning Disability Care Coordinator PCN Role

Primary Care Wirral starts the recruitment, training and management of Learning Disability Care Coordinators, for Healthier South Wirral and Wallasey Wellbeing.

2021

Delivery of Service Specifications 6 and 7 (2021/2022)

  • Cardiovascular disease prevention and diagnosis
  • Tackling neighbourhood inequalities

January 2021 - PCW creates the Cancer Care Coordinator PCN Role

Primary Care Wirral starts the recruitment, training and management of Cancer Care Coordinators , for Brighter Birkenhead, Healthier South Wirral and Wallasey Wellbeing.

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WHAT NEXT?

Network Contract Details

PCN DES Contract Specification (PDF)

This specification applies to the first year of the Network Contract (from 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020).

The focus for this period is to support the establishment of primary care networks (PCNs) and the recruitment of new workforce (Clinical Pharmacists, Social Prescribing link workers), with the bulk of service requirements coming in from April 2020 onward (until March 2024).

Following sign-up to the Network Contract DES, the requirements on GP practices apply from 1st July 2019.

PCN DES Guide (PDF)

This guide provides additional information to support the 2019/20 Network Contract DES.

Mandatory Network Agreement and Schedules

This Mandatory Network Agreement provides the main body to the Network Agreement.

The Schedules to the Mandatory Network Agreement are used to support the delivery of the DES contract.

Network Contract DES and VAT

This document is an information note from NHS England regarding the Network Contract DES and VAT.

PCN Frequently Asked Questions

This document provides answers to the most common questions regarding PNCs.