What are Primary Care Networks

Whether you’re a Primary Care Network Clinical Director, or a local pharmacist looking to work more closely with your local GP practices, this is the place to find out all about what Community Pharmacy can do in collaboration with our other primary care colleagues.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan, with general practices and community pharmacies being a part of a network, typically covering 30,000-50,000 patients. The networks will provide the structure and funding for services to be developed locally, in response to the needs of the patients they serve.

The networks will have expanded neighbourhood teams which will comprise a range of staff such as GPs, clinical pharmacists, district nurses, community geriatricians, dementia workers and Allied Health Professionals such as physiotherapists and podiatrists/chiropodists, joined by social care and the voluntary sector’.

Future of Community Pharmacy

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) will bring health & care professionals together to provide joined-up primary and community-based care in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. Unlike previous plans the role of Community Pharmacy features heavily. Our contribution and our potential have been recognised, NSHE announced some national funding to support the development of the role.

This NHS England film outlines more.

PCNs will build on current services by enabling primary & community care to become more proactive, personalized, coordinated, and integrated.

As PCNs develop, the role of community pharmacy is beginning to receive the recognition it deserves. Use the resources on this page to learn more about PCNs, locally and nationally.