What is
primary care?

Primary care

Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental and optometry
(eye health) services. Source: NHS England 

What is a Primary Care Network (PCN)?

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are groups of existing providers working collaboratively to provide enhanced services.  Currently this consists of groups of practices, see our PCNs here, but will soon include community and social care, as well as acute and mental health providers. They build on the core primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care in local communities. They are a fundamental building block of the NHS LongTerm Plan – the Strategy that will see the NHS evolve into a sustainable health system.
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Since many people are living with multiple long term health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, mental health issues, individuals may need to access to a wide variety of providers
more often. Many of these conditions are caused by wider determinants of health such as housing and deprivation.  The vision is that PCNs will enable patients to be supported by multi disciplinary teams from across health and social care and the voluntary sector, working together .




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