The Business of Primary Care Networks
Over 250 blogs to support the leadership and management of primary care networks 

NHS England says the left shift isn't happening in practice. This blog looks at why the money isn't following patients out of hospital, using one trust's accounts as an example.

A PCN's money goes to one nominated payee, and that practice sees the full picture first. This part of the series looks at who holds the money, who can see it, who it belongs to, and what that means for neighbourhood working.

Locums can now be claimed through the £292m GP reimbursement scheme. Tara Humphrey maps how CAIP, ARRS and GP funding rules have loosened since 2023.

Integrated Health Organisations are arriving, and they run on a mechanism most PCN leaders haven't had explained yet: the risk and gain contract. Here's what it is, how it differs from how NHS money moves today, what it takes to hold one well, and what to watch for when several organisations manage a shared budget together.

This series takes primary care networks apart component by component. This instalment looks at the people the contract asks to lead it: the Clinical Director, the PCN manager, the practice managers, and the board they sit on together.

(A review of the political, economic and social factors affecting a primary care network) Most quarters, we create a list of what to focus on. But this quarter, rather than listing the same tasks, which should be business as usual by now, we think taking some time to slow down and think strategically about where your network is and your role in facilitating the next steps is a better use of your time. Your network is not just paying you to do your role. It is paying you to ex

Primary care networks are groups of general practices working together, and they have been the main vehicle for change in general practice since 2019. This blog covers where they came from, what the contract actually says, and why running one is harder than the job description suggests.

NHS England's MNP and SNP consultation sets out four routes but only two contracts. What PCN leaders need to weigh up, and how to respond by 10 Sept 2026.

Community pharmacy is primary care, and it has always worked at neighbourhood level. In her third appearance on The Business of Healthcare, Shilpa Shah of Community Pharmacy North East London explains what neighbourhood working, Pharmacy First and prevention really mean for the sector, and who picks up the bill.

As neighbourhood working evolves, provider-to-provider contracting is helping some areas move faster without waiting for new national contracts. Discover how the approach works, where the opportunities lie, and the key legal and organisational risks PCNs should consider before getting started.

At THC, we create resources for General practice and community pharmacy, which are part of the same primary care family, but anyone who has worked across both worlds knows it does not always feel that way. The two often sit alongside each other rather than together, sharing patients and misconceptions about how and why each party operates as it does. The inaugural community pharmacy conference and general practices conference held on 21st and 22nd June set out to close that g

The new NHS Oversight Framework 2026/27 never mentions PCNs. But read Annex B and primary care runs right through the ICB scorecard, from same day access to long-term condition management and screening. Here is how the framework works, where general practice sits inside it, and why your ICB will be paying attention.

Meetings are one of the most expensive things PCN leaders do. A practical guide to making them worth the time and money they cost, plus a checklist to take away.

ost GP practices work hard to deliver excellent patient care, but being a good practice does not automatically mean being a good business. Gary Hughes explores the seven ingredients that help create stronger, more resilient practices and introduces the Business Strength Model.

Support PCN pharmacist progression when ARRS roles are devolved: practical insights to unlock development across your network.

This blog explores whether business principles have a place in running a primary care network. Not profit. Not customers. But vision, intentional decision-making, and a long-term view. With the average PCN managing over £1 million in staffing funding, the accountability is significant, and the approach that got you here may not get you there. This blog sets out what business thinking actually looks like in a PCN context.

If your PCN had to justify every ARRS role it currently funds, could it? Not in theory. With evidence of impact, embedded relationships, and a clear case for why that role, in your network, is worth protecting.

Eight pieces to help PCN Clinical Directors, PCN managers and practice managers understand neighbourhood health policy, contract architecture and governance readiness. Start here.

SNP and MNP Contracts: Governance Readiness Self-Assessment for PCNs

NHS England published Fit for the Future on 17 March 2026. Here is what is new, what it confirms, and what remains open for PCN leaders and Clinical Directors.