The PCN DES 24/25 for Primary Care Network Leaders | What to focus on in Q1

On the 28th March 2024, the Network Contract DES: Contract specification 2024/25 – PCN requirements and entitlements was released.

In this blog, we provide our initial analysis of the 24/25 PCN DES and provide:

We also invite our peers and colleagues who are part of our members club to join us on 24th April from 12pm—1:30pm for our live masterclass, which will walk you through how to build a PCN strategic plan with an editable template and within this blog, we provide you with an editable infographic for you to tailor and highlight the specific changes you would like your network to be aware of.
 

Remove all distractions, grab your notebook and pen and let's jump in!

This blog follows our initial assessment of the  Arrangement for the General Contract in 2024/25  that was published 28th February 2024.

To support this blog, you will need access to the following documents and resources.

You may also want to check out:

eGPlearning who provide their analysis of the document and Ben Gowland's take via Ockham Healthcare and his General Practice Podcast.

I can't emphasise enough the importance of sourcing multiple viewpoints on this strategic document. It's also crucial that you are able to develop your own thoughts and can critically appraise and decide on the next steps for your network.

The full name of the document being reviewed is called The Network Contract DES: Contract specification 2024/25 – PCN requirements and entitlements. However, within this resource and conversations with your colleagues, the document is typically referred to as the PCN DES.

The PCN DES was first introduced in 2019 and will run until 31st March 2024.

The 24/25 contract is to be in place for 12 months and is referred to in this context as a stepping-stone contract due to financial restrictions across the whole NHS. 

This contract within the confines of a limited budget and feedback from PCNs is designed to provide more flexibility and autonomy. 

Important: If you are brand new to your PCN, you need to read the document thoroughly.

The financial entitlements for 24 /25 can be found below.

🎯 To support the network's financial management moving forward, it's advisable to review your allocated income using the PCN ready reckoner here.

In 23/24, the Local Capacity and Access Improvement payment was a payment made in respect of documented improvements in the following key areas:

PCNs must have worked with the commissioner to assess and record the PCN's position at the start of the 2023/24 financial year in relation to the three key areas, as set out above.

They must also have considered how improvements in the PCN’s position (as at the start of the 2023/24 financial year) will be measured - and set the appropriate levels of improvement, which should be achieved by 31 March 2024.

For the 24/25 financial year, the Local Capacity and Access Improvement Payment is in addition to the Capacity and Access Support Payment and relates to the improvements listed below that relate to key components of Modern General Practice Access ("MGPA”) as described in the Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care. This covers:

1️⃣ Better digital telephony;

2️⃣ Simpler online requests; and

3️⃣ Faster care navigation, assessment and response.

🎯ACTION: The PCN Clinical Director must, prior to 31 March 2025, apply the assessment criteria and determine whether each improvement has been achieved (i.e. whether all assessment criteria for an improvement has been met).

➡️ The PCN can notify the commissioner at any time prior to 31 March 2025.

➡️ The PCN can only notify the commissioner once in relation to a specific improvement but can notify the commissioner at different times prior to 31 March 2025 in relation to different improvements.

As stated in the Arrangement for the General Contract in 2024/25 letter published on 28 February 2024, the Enhanced Access specification will remain as a separate specification, with the arrangements unchanged for 2024/25. The remaining eight PCN service specifications listed below will be replaced by one simpler overarching specification.

These services should hopefully be business as usual now.

The guidance can be found here A: clinical and support services (section 8), which can be found here.

This simpler specification is divided into 4 key functions, with two of these functions relating to how the PCN organises itself.

For the networks that have yet to define their vision, organising their activities under the following four functions may help them focus their operational activities moving forward.

For clarification, the 4 PCN functions are not a substitute for a vision, but may provide enough of a steer to underpin the network's activities.

🎯 I highly recommend you read through the Network contract–directed enhanced service guidance for 2024/25 in England—part A: clinical and support services (section 8), which can be found here.

This document forms part of a ‘guidance’ package designed to support

commissioners, PCNs and their constituent practices to implement the DES.

For 24/25, the IIF has been reduced from 5 indicators to 2.

Tackling health inequalities (HI) domain

The cancer domain

The following questions should serve as helpful prompts to identify where your network could focus its efforts for the next 90 days.

You do not need to focus on all areas at once. Choose 3 - 5 activities to focus on for the next 90 days.

Meet with your practices and leadership teams to talk things through.

Below are further questions to help inform where you want to focus your efforts.

For those of you ready to create your strategic plan for 24/25 and would like a structure to follow, you may find the following helpful.

Please note a strategic plan does not have to be exact or perfect, but at the very least, it could include:

To receive your editable template, join us on 24th April from 12pm - 1:30pm for our live masterclass, which will walk you through how to build a PCN strategic plan.

What changes would you like to highlight in your Primary Care Network?

Using this editable infographic, register for Canva for FREE; click on this link. Copy the graphic, edit the contents and add your PCN branding.

In this blog, you will find:

1️⃣ A video overview of what to focus on in Q4

2️⃣ An overview of the PCN Finances for 23/24

3️⃣ A reminder of the PCN national service requirements

4️⃣ A checklist to guide your network through your Q4

5️⃣ A link to a video which walks you through how to create your PCN dashboard ( If you do not have this already)

If you require interim management, call and recall support, further training or facilitation, please visit https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/primary-care-network-services

I'm Tara; I am the founder of THC Primary Care, an award-winning healthcare consultancy specialising in Primary Care Network Management and the host of the Business of Healthcare Podcast, where we have now published over 290 episodes.

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sectors, and I have supported over 120 PCNs by providing interim management, training and consultancy.

I have managed teams across multiple sites and countries, have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare, have been published in the London Journal of Primary Care, and am the author of over 250 blogs.

I have 3 children. My eldest has Asthma, my middle child has a kidney condition called Nephrotic Syndrome, and my youngest daughter has Type 1 Diabetes, so outside of work, healthcare plays a huge role in my life.