Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
Three major pieces of work have been published that frame the purpose and implementation of PCNs:
- The NHS Long Term Plan
- The GP Partnership Review and
- The GP Contract changes for April 2019 and beyond.
In 2024/25 the Lord Darzi also referenced PCNs in its report into the NHS called the The Independent investigation of the NHS in England and the Labour government went further in 2025 with the NHS 10 year plan . These highlighted the efficiency of primary care compared to the rest of the NHS system, and went on to reference PCNs, but also started to change the term in use to “Neighbourhood Teams”. This is a movement towards a change in how we might see PCNs developing in the minds of politicians and NHS England.
Individually these would have a significant impact on GPs and their practices but taken together they will have the most significant change that we have seen for many years and potentially even greater than the 2004 contract. Furthermore, the 10 year plan for the NHS moves into a new realm of contract renegotiation with the potential for new types of primary care contracts being named for the first time: Single neighbourhood contracts and multi-neighbourhood contracts. These are not the same as PCNs and are simply an alternative contract under development that might be offered to areas where a GMS or PMS contract can no longer support primary care.
PCNs have now been in existence across England for over 6 years now. Their development was delayed during the Covid pandemic, but the pandemic also demonstrated the efficiencies of joint working across PCN geographies as the Covid vaccination program was delivered across PCN footprints. Moving forwards, the 10 year plan looks to build on the successes of PCNs, while recognising the contractual challenges that PCNs face, including in how staff are employed. The plan itself is full of aspiration but currently remains short on the detail around how it is going to be delivered, and more importantly, afforded.
Linking into this is the development of Primary Care Networks and Neighbourhood Teams, and the work that practices will need to undertake in the short and long term to make these a success. We recognise there is a huge amount of information available to practices and that it can feel overwhelming, we have therefore created this page so that practices have one place to access all information relating to PCNs.
FutureNHS collaboration platform – PCNs and Practices Support Hub – Intergrated Care
There are a number of documents & guidance available.
- NHS England » Network contract directed enhanced service – guidance for 2025/26 in England – part A: clinical and support services (section 8)
- NHS England » Network Contract DES 2025/26: part B guidance: non-clinical
- NHS England » Network Contract DES 2025/26: part B guidance: non-clinical
- NHS England » General medical services (GMS) and primary care network (PCN) income ready reckoner from 1 April 2025
- NHS England » Network contract DES – primary care network adjusted populations spreadsheet
- NHS England » Sub-contract for the provision of services related to the Network Contract DES 2025/26
- NHS England » Recording GP appointments – consolidated guidance
- PCN Workforce – ARRS
- ARRS Claims Portal FAQs Nov 2023 (FutureNHS login required)
- Patient Group Directions (PGD) use within PCNs
Useful Resources:
- NHS England- Primary Care Networks
- Slides for PCN Discussion Group meeting on 3.11.2025 (Please see this time line for PCN presentation 3.11.25. Should anyone want a copy of this recording please contact lead@wessexlmcs.org.uk )
PCN – Network Agreement
The General Practice Defence Fund (GDPF) have released a Network Agreement template with the schedules completed, along with some guidance notes.
- GPDF Guidance on Structuring PCNs
- Guidance Note 1 – Completing the mandatory Network Agreement with its Schedules
- Guidance Note 2 – Employment & Pensions
- Guidance Note 3 – Governance, accountability, liabilities & internal arrangements
- Guidance Note 4 – Contracts, sub-contracts & service delivery
- Guidance Note 5 – VAT & Funding Implications
- Guidance Note 6 – Clinical Director
If you decide for your PCN this is what you wish to use, you will need to review these to ensure they meet the needs of your PCN and we would suggest that you may need to seek legal or financial advice to ensure these are fit for purpose.
If your PCN appears simple with the aspiration in the first year to undertake the requirements of the DES only, then it is likely using the templates will be fine initially. If you are looking at more complex structures or are planning to be more radical, then we would suggest that you need to consider getting specialist advice.
PCNs in year two will continue to grow therefore it is likely that a more robust Network Agreement will be required with the need for specialist advice.
Given there now seems to be wealth of information relating to Network Agreements, we would suggest essentially the options are:
- Read the guidance and write your own schedules
- Read the guidance and use the GPDF template, considering whether specialist advice is needed
- Engage with a solicitor who can provide a template Network Agreement
- Engage with specialist solicitor to write the Network Agreement for you and make them bespoke for your PCN (estimate the cost between £2000 – £2500)