The NHS England South East Primary Care Transformation programme team works with six Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), and approximately 218 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across the South East to help transform the way patients access and receive primary care services.

Our focus for 2023/24 includes:

• Access, demand, capacity and PCN innovation: providing a clear and accurate picture of demand and capacity pressures within primary care and improving patient access routes.
• Digital infrastructure: developing digital technology and infrastructure in primary care, including a specific focus on system interoperability.
• PCN development: supporting the development of PCN leadership and the integration of primary care, community and social care services.
• Workforce: shaping the primary care workforce to manage future population needs, including by developing Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) and remote/flexible employment models.
• Proactive care: promoting the use of population health insights, and quality improvement tools and methodologies to support a shift to a proactive, personalised care approach.

To learn more about the South East Primary Care Transformation  programme, or contact england.seprimarycaretransformationteam@nhs.net

The Primary Care Network Access Innovation Pilot: the Folkestone Hythe and Rural PCN Hub 

As part of our PCN access innovation work, we have supported a pilot project led by Folkestone, Hythe and Rural PCN to improve patient access to services and manage increased demand on local GP practices.

The project involved:

• The integration of PCN services via central appointment booking, seamless referral/communications, and the ability to consult patients via a single system.
• Improving access for patients by providing additional hub appointments and the delivery of online consultations through a PCN-level eHub.
• Supporting collaborative working via federated administrative services, the delivery of enhanced services, the development of clinical hubs, and the involvement of other community providers.
• Enabling PCN-level prescribing via electronic prescribing within a single clinical service.
• Securing workforce efficiencies via single sign-on for ARRS staff via a dedicated smart card and functionality that allows staff to work remotely.
• Strengthening business intelligence via demand/capacity modelling, utilisation tools, monitoring of eHub activity and automated tracking of QOF & IIF data.

You can explore the full blueprint for the project or download a range of in-depth guides and practical resources designed for PCNs interested in pursuing the approach.