Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol – Jan-Mar 2020
The emerging Primary Care Networks (PCNs) will be expected, by 2021, to deliver ‘locally agreed action to tackle inequalities’ – one of seven national service specifications. The NHS Long-term Plan commits to a ‘more concerted and systematic approach to reducing health inequalities’ with a promise that action on inequalities will be central to everything the NHS does. This is happening alongside a renewed focus by the Health Minister on prevention, social prescribing and universal personalised care.
Notwithstanding a number of challenges in the design and contracting of PCNs that need to be addressed and the impact of broader political agendas, this provides an opportunity to bring action on health inequalities into the mainstream of primary care and to address complex local issues in partnership with communities and other local partners. PCNs are uniquely placed to lead and support primary care practitioners to play their part in a wider transformation that is taking place which involves a shift to a new dynamic in the relationship between primary care practitioners, the communities they serve and other local partners who serve the same communities.
Health Creation Alliance and RCGP Health Inequalities Standing Group, supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement, will host three one-day events to look at how PCNs can best lead and support these changes. They will take place between January and March 2020. Dates and booking details will be available soon.
