About Us

What is a Primary Care Network (PCN)?

A primary care network is a group of practices who work together to focus on local patient care. They’ve been around since 2019 and 99% of practices across England now work as part of one.

PCNs build on existing primary care services and provide more personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care for their patients. It is described as a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively caring for the people and communities they serve.

With increased demand and a shortage of clinical staff, practices find they can provide greater, more personalised care for patients when they can work together on certain services or issues.

Our Team

Our expanded and enhanced PCN Team brings together the skills of our established Primary Care teams that patients are familiar with – such as – Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare Assistants.

We also have a wider GP practice workforce including Clinical Pharmacists, Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, General Practice Assistants and Mental Health Care Connectors who are now part of a broader based primary care team.

Leadership Team

Clinical Director – Dr Jo Pritchard

The Clinical Director is the named accountable individual for the PCN. The Clinical Director provides leadership for the network’s strategic plans, through working with member practices and the wider PCN to improve the quality and effectiveness of the network services.

PCN Manager – Marilyn Long

Social Prescribing Link Workers

Our social prescribing team work across all our practices as a key part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. They deliver support and advice that empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing while ensuring that the focus is on to what matters to them. The Social Prescriber takes a holistic approach to an individual’s health and wellbeing, which will include where appropriate, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Clinical Pharmacists

Our Clinical Pharmacists work with all of our GP practices as key members of the Primary Care team. They provide support to the medical team on a day-to-day basis and engage directly with patients to ensure safe and effective prescribing and medicines management.

Health and Wellbeing Coaches

Our Health and Wellbeing Coaches work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Their role is to consider the whole person by addressing existing issues and encouraging the proactive prevention of new illnesses or the deterioration of existing long-term conditions. Health coaching revolves around using coaching skills to support people to manage their health and wellbeing, whilst increasing their ability to access and utilise support offered either within primary care or the wider community.

Care Co-ordinators

Our Care Coordinators work closely with our Social Prescribers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches and practice teams to support the provision of continuity of care and act as a point of contact for families, residents, and professionals for patients

Other Staff

Our PCN has recently recruited three General Practice Assistants. These new team members will be working in hybrid roles covering clinical and administrative duties which support the wider Primary Care team.

We also have a Digital Champion who supports the PCN, the practices and patients by offering assistance with digital services, administration and technology awareness.