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

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.

Not sure who should be your CQC Registered Manager? This guide helps PCNs ask the right questions, understand the role, and appoint the right person with confidence.

Many PCN leaders are asking whether they need new structures in place by April 2026. With implementation details still unclear, it's hard to know what to do. Here's my view: don't panic, but don't stand still either. Pick a service, test collaboration, and let the structure follow.

In Dare to Lead, Brené Brown explores four types of power. This blog looks at how "power over" often disguises itself in primary care and invites you to reflect on how you use yours.

Budget announcements, BMA standoffs, and the Strategic Commissioning Framework. A November 2025 roundup for PCN and practice managers navigating NHS policy.

Should you spend time reading NHS policy? Our framework will help PCN leaders find where alignment exists in their work - and make conscious choices about engagement.

Understand the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework 2026/27-2028/29. Essential guide for PCN leaders on integrated neighbourhood teams, targets & timelines.

If you're a PCN Manager considering your next career move, there are numerous pathways to explore. Here are the key options and strategies for developing your career

Don't let hidden assumptions derail your neighbourhood health project. Use this exercise at your next team meeting to surface risks early. Based on analysis of major NHS failures like NPfIT and terminated integration contracts, this practical tool helps teams identify dangerous blind spots across 8 key areas: relationships, funding, governance, community needs, and more.

Tara Humphrey breaks down why over £93 million in Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme funding went unspent by Primary Care Networks in 2024/25, and what's changing ahead.

PCN leaders face critical decisions: adapt to neighbourhood team structures or build on strengths? Practical guidance on NHS transformation ahead.