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Primary care network hub

The NHS England South East Region Primary Care Transformation programme has recently published a blueprint guide and resources for a primary care network (PCN) hub pilot that include full PCN system solution configuration and considerations, training manuals and resources to support “how to” work in the system, clinical safety resources including clinical safety case report (CSCR) to support those forward thinkers in standing up clinical systems as well as a data Governance framework ensuring the governance process is managed for those wanting to support colleagues in PCNs to boost appointment capacity through federated delivery of services.

Using the enhanced access contract and other sustainable funding streams, the Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN created a new hub operating model which has added more than 2,500 additional appointments per month for its seven constituent practices.

James Hempsted-Kingham, programme director for primary care transformation and digital first said: “We are delighted that the recent PCN Hub pilot has been nominated as finalist for the HSJ Awards Primary and community care innovation of the year category.

“This pilot supports true innovation on the ground supporting primary care workforce delivering at scale. One of the many benefits of this model is that it is a clinical system that has been configured so that others can choose what at-scale health services they want, tailored to their specific patient population with data as a key component, enabling the workforce to better understand utilisation of services and measure outcomes.

“We genuinely believe there will be something for everyone in these resources, regardless of the current level of maturity in a PCN or the scale of ambition going forwards. The model has delivered a ‘once for all’ approach when looking at barriers others will need to go through in order to work in this way, and while the practices in the PCN all use EMIS, much of the resource pack will also be of help to users of other clinical systems too.”

Some of the main outputs of the work have included:

  • Integrating PCN services – through central appointment booking, seamless referral/comms, and the ability to consult patients via a single system
  • Improving access for patients – through additional hub appointments, delivery of online consultations (eHub) and improved access to practice-based appointments
  • Supporting collaborative working – through federated administrative services, the delivery of enhanced services, development of clinical hubs, and the involvement of other community providers
  • Enabling PCN-level prescribing – through electronic prescribing within a single clinical service
  • Securing workforce efficiencies – through single sign-on for additional roles reimbursement scheme staff via a dedicated smart card and functionality that allows staff to work remotely
  • Strengthening business intelligence – through demand/capacity modelling, utilisation tools, monitoring of eHub activity and automated tracking of quality and outcomes framework and investment and impact fund data

For more information about how NHS England South East regional office supported this project, please e-mail adriana.jimenez@nhs.net or the Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN leadership team is happy to receive enquiries from other PCNs embarking on similar projects. If you would like to get in touch, e-mail kmicb.fhrpcn.enquiries@nhs.net.

Last Updated on 4 October 2023