Medical services

PCC helps commissioners navigate their way through commissioning and contracting matters. Support can be provided via our national training events, at local workshops or through our helpdesk facility. To support this, we are placing links to some essential resources below.

Local workshops and one to one support

The medical team can deliver a number of standard or bespoke local face to face or virtual workshops for your organisation.

Our team can also provide one to one support and mentoring for new team members.

If you have specific training needs and you would like to discuss, please contact either your local PCC adviser or contact us at enquiries@pcc-cic.org.uk.

Training and support for commissioners

PCC’s medical team are launching their next round of training courses for commissioners. Given the success of delivering the courses virtually over the last couple of years this will continue for our national programme.

These training courses are available virtually through our national events or we provide bespoke virtual or face to face workshops for your team. If interested in a local workshop, please contact your PCC adviser, or contact us via enquiries@pcc-cic.org.uk.

Primary care medical contracts: key considerations and variations – an introduction

Over three virtual sessions this course introduces commissioners to the key areas of primary care medical contracts (GMS, PMS and APMS) that they will face in their roles.

Primary medical services: contract management and dispute resolution

Over two virtual sessions this course provides a deeper insight for commissioners to primary medical contract management and dispute resolution challenges they will face in their roles allowing ample time for learning through group working, feedback, questions, and answers.

Primary medical service: enacting contract variations

Over two virtual sessions this course re-introduces commissioners to primary medical contract variations they will face in their roles allowing ample time for learning through group working, feedback, questions, and answers.

Primary medical services networking surgeries

These sessions led by PCC advisers are available to contract holders who have also purchased helpdesk support, provide an opportunity to network with other commissioners and raise and discuss either generally or on specific tabled topics your queries, concerns, and issues in relation to primary care medical contracts.

There is usually no set agenda and the session will be an open discussion with the PCC experts supporting this area. Submit your questions to events@pcc-cic.org.uk or ask them on the day – see PCC events for the current options:

  • Primary care medical contracts and PCNs
  • Primary medical services: GP patient lists – a networking surgery

GP patient lists – a suite of sessions

Building on the GP patient lists networking surgery, 2024 introduces a suite of three sessions focusing on GP patient lists. Aimed at those who have little to no knowledge or those looking for a refresh and designed to enable commissioners to better understand the different types of patient registrations matters within the GP contract:

  • An overview
    This half day virtual event will provide an overview of GP patient registrations and refusals.
  • Patient removals, assignments, and special allocation scheme
    This half day virtual event provides an in depth look at patient removals, assignments, and special allocation scheme (SAS).
  • Open and closed lists and out of area patients
    This half day virtual event will provide an in depth look at open and closed lists and out of area patients.

Provider Selection Regime regulations – primary care medical contracts
The Provider Selection Regime regulations came into effect on 1 January 2024. These new regulations have a practical impact on how the commissioning and contract management of primary care medical services is undertaken. To help commissioners understand these regulations, PCC run this training sessions with Hill Dickinson Solicitors to examine the regulations and using scenarios to bring them to life.

Introduction to the Primary Care Network (PCN) Directed Enhanced Service (DES)

Primary care networks (PCNs) have been an important part of the primary care landscape since 2019. This three-hour virtual event introduces the PCN DES, its key components, the services provided under it and how commissioners work with PCNs. It is aimed at primary care commissioners who want to understand more about the PCN DES or are new to their role and incorporates the changes in 2024.

More details on each of these courses can be found here and via our events page.

PCC medical helpdesk (annual contract holders)

Commissioners who have specific commissioning and contract queries in relation to the primary care medical contracts can submit queries to PCC’s expert primary medical care team via our online helpdesk portal at: https://helpdesk.pcc-cic.org.uk/

Essential resources for medical commissioners and providers

As part of our support to commissioners and providers we are placing links to some essential resources below which PCC can help you navigate.

Changes to the GP contract in 2024/25
NHS England have published a suite of documents relating to the GP contractual arrangements, which includes guidance, financial information and contract specifications, for 2024/25. These include:

  • General Practice Contract Arrangements 2024/25 letter
  • GP Contract 2024/25 financial information
  • Seasonal influenza service specifications and collaboration agreement
  • Quality and outcomes framework (QOF) guidance for 2024/25
  • Weight Management Enhanced Service 2024/25
  • Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES)

PCC has summarised the key points from the Network contract directed enhanced service (DES).

In addition, published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), a number of legal documents formally underpinning the GP contract have been updated and published effective 1 April 2024. These include:

PCN incorporation – what, why, how and who

Many primary care networks (PCNs) around the country have either formed corporate vehicles or are in the process of doing so. In this article, Hill Dickinson’s specialist primary care partner Alison Oliver and legal director Ruth Griffiths explore what PCN incorporation involves, why PCNs might want to consider this model, how to go about putting a corporate structure in place and who the key players are in the process.

The Hewitt review of integrated care systems

The Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt was commissioned to lead an independent review of integrated care systems. The review considered the oversight and governance of integrated care systems (ICSs) and contains recommendations. The report maintains that the introduction of ICSs “represents the best opportunity in a generation for a transformation in our health and care system.” PCC has summarised the key recommendations set out in the report.

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