What is a primary care network (PCN)?
A primary care network consists of groups of general practices working together with a range of local providers, including across primary care, community services, social care and the voluntary sector, to offer more personalised, coordinated health and social care to their local populations.

Networks would normally be based around natural local communities typically serving populations of at least 30,000 and not tending to exceed 50,000. 

They should be small enough to maintain the traditional strengths of general practice but at the same time large enough to provide resilience and support the development of integrated team 

Which organisations form part of a primary care network? 
Primary care networks will be expected to have a wide-reaching membership, led by groups of general practices. 

This should include providers from the local system such as community pharmacy, optometrists, dental providers,social care providers, voluntary sector organisations, community services providers or local government.

What are PCNs designed to do?

Primary care networks will provide proactive, coordinated care to their local populations, in different ways to match different people’s needs, with a strong focus on prevention and personalised care. 

This means supporting patients to make informed decisions about their own health and care and connecting them to a wide range of statutory and voluntary services to ensure they can access the care they need first time. 

Networks will also have a greater focus on population health and addressing health inequalities in their local area, using data and technology to inform the delivery of population scale care models.

What are the core characteristics of a PCN? 

The core characteristics of a PCN are.

• Practices working together and with other local health and care providers, around natural local communities that geographically make sense, to provide coordinated care through integrated teams.
• Typically a defined patient population of at least 30,000 and tend not to exceed 50,000.
• Providing care in different ways to match different people’s needs, including flexible access to advice, support for ‘healthier’ sections of the population, and joined up care for those with complex conditions on prevention and personalised care, supporting patients to make informed decisions about their care and look after their own health, by connecting them with the full range of statutory and voluntary services 

Ask your question
If you have a question about Cygnet Primary Care Group and how it might affect you, please contact the practice manager at one of the Cygnet network surgeries or contact Cynet PCN using the Contact Form below.