Primary Care Network Update – July & August 2025

At THC Primary Care, we create resources for primary care leaders.

This update captures the latest developments affecting primary care networks (PCNs) from July and August 2025.

You will find information on:

• PCN funding increases

• Enhanced Access payment arrangements and new compliance requirements

• ARRS reimbursement updates for General Medical Practitioners

• Neighbourhood Development Programme pilot expansions

• Next steps for implementing these changes in your PCN

Let's jump in!

1. PCN Funding & Contract Revisions

NHS England issued a mid-year update on the 2025/26 GP Contract, including revised PCN Directed Enhanced Services (DES) payments.

Key points for PCNs and practices

1️⃣ ARRS funding now stands at £1,711 million for the year:

• Previous rate: £26.631 per weighted population patient

• New rate: £26.848 per weighted population patient

  
  

2️⃣ Practices must apply the new Global Sum rate of £123.34 per weighted patient and backdate payments where necessary.

➡️ The updated PCN ARRS rates can be found here. The NHS document can be found here.

Communicating Pay Uplifts to Staff

It’s important to communicate clearly with staff about the process for uplifts and backdated pay. Many colleagues may assume that, because national funding has increased, they will automatically receive a salary uplift. In some networks, however, that may not be the case.

Being upfront about how these uplifts are applied is essential to managing expectations, reducing confusion, and maintaining trust.

2. Enhanced Access

• From July 2025 onwards, PCNs will see the uplift applied to all Enhanced Access payments going forward.

• This means the monthly PCN payment schedules will reflect the new rates automatically.

• Previous rate: £8.427 per adjusted population patient

• New rate: £8.523 per adjusted population patient

  
  

If PCNs haven’t yet seen the backdated payments land, they should check with their ICB finance team to ensure adjustments are processed correctly.

For a complete overview of your financial entitlements, see our PCN Financial entitlements calculator.)

3. ARRS Reimbursement for General Medical Practitioners

The PCN DES (section 7.6) has been updated to clarify the reimbursement arrangements for General Medical Practitioners (GMPs) employed under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).

Key points:

• GMPs employed via ARRS now have rights to time off for:

  • maternity, paternity, adoption, parental, neonatal care, and shared parental leave (subject to employment law conditions).

• If eligible, they can receive statutory sick pay for up to 28 weeks in any three-year period.

• If suspended from the medical performers list, payments may be made directly from NHS England (under regulation 13(1) of the Performers Lists Regulations).

• GMPs may also be entitled to Prolonged Study Leave.

How payments are made during absence:

• If employed by a PCN member practice → payments are made in line with the Statements of Financial Entitlements (SFE).

• If employed by a Third-Party Organisation → payments are made in line with Annex E of the DES, where the SFE does not apply.

➡️ We strongly encourage PCN leaders to review Annex E – Payments for Specific Purposes in the DES specification to understand the detailed reimbursement rules and conditions.

4. Neighbourhood Development Programme

In July, NHS England launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP).

What it means:

• Focused on adults with multiple long-term conditions and those at rising risk.

• Builds new ways of working across health, local authorities, voluntary and community sectors.

• The first 42 pilot sites are scheduled to go live in September 2025, supported by national coaching and a Task Force chaired by Sir John Oldham.

Even if your system isn’t directly involved, you can start preparing for neighbourhood-level working.

➡️ Preparing for the new neighbourhood contracts | Facilitation Questions

Six scenarios to test your PCN’s readiness for collaboration.

➡️ Neighbourhood Working for PCN Leaders – A Strategic Framework  

A practical way to think about strategy, partnerships, and collaboration across organisations, systems, and communities.

➡️ The Neighbourhood MOT

Get instant access to the PDF assessment and our latest insights on PCN collaboration delivered straight to your inbox.

5. Next Steps for Your PCN

1. Review the ARRS uplift and funding changes

2. Continue to review your progress relating to the CAN04 FIT incentive — use our FIT Dashboard Guide for practical support found here: NHS FIT Dashboard Guide for PCN Leaders

3. Start neighbourhood conversations — use our facilitation questions and framework to test readiness.

4. Note the new GMP reimbursement provisions — ensure your contracts, HR policies, and risk-sharing agreements are aligned.

5. Keep track of ongoing NHS updates on QOF, DES, and IIF indicators.

Further Support

Professional Development

If you want to master the strategic thinking behind these challenges: Join our Business of Healthcare Leadership Programme starting September 12th.

Deep dive into frameworks, case studies, and peer learning with other pioneering leaders navigating the same uncharted territory.

The PCN Members Club

If you need ongoing practical support for your neighbourhood conversations, join our PCN Members Club for just £497/year.

We have an exclusive master class coming up where I will be sharing top tips to help you facilitate your neighbourhood discussions on 4th September from 1:15pm – 2:15pm

Facilitation

If your network would benefit from a neutral voice for those tricky partnership discussions, we provide in-person facilitation too.

Contact admin@theprimarycare.co.uk to book facilitation support.