Engage with Primary Care Networks to develop local opportunities for community pharmacy

The NHS Long Term Plan required all GP practices to work together in Primary Care Networks (PCNs). These are groups of general practices joining together in a local area to work collaboratively across the practices and with community service providers and other health and care organisations, including community pharmacies.

It is important that community pharmacy teams are fully engaged in the work of PCNs, to optimise their provision of services to patients and because the future development of services will be driven locally by PCNs. Each PCN will need a pharmacy lead to create a link between the local community pharmacies and the PCN, identifying who we can work as part of the system to deliver the healthcare needs for the local population. The new Quality Payment Scheme will reward any community pharmacy that is engaging with with the PCN with an extra payment for the lead pharmacists for the area.

Different PCNs are at different states of readiness to engage with community pharmacies. What is true for all is that community pharmacies need to be ready to engage with the PCN when they are ready. It is important therefore that community pharmacists are prepared and understand what PCNs are and how they we can work together.

The Nottinghamshire LPC have organised a workshop to introduce PCNs to its contractors. This is an important workshop to attend for any LPC member. area managers of multiple pharmacies, pharmacy owners and pharmacy managers.