A Primary Care Network - often shortened as PCN - is a group of GP practices based in a local community.

Typically, it’s between 5 to 10 GP practices covering patient population of 30,000 to 50,000.

A PCN encourages GP practices within the network to share their expertise and resources, and develop closer partnerships with community health providers, hospitals, mental health trusts, community pharmacy and voluntary organisations.

Our network (called the West Hill Primary Care Network) includes 9 GP practices, including North Kensington Medical Centre.

Partnership working enables patients to access additional health services provided within the PCN GP practices.

Patients will receive more personalised care as clinicians will be able to refer them to appropriate non-clinical services in the community including voluntary organisations.

• Extended Hours GP access 8am—8pm.
• Clinical pharmacist – advice on medication.
• Specialist services: specialist diabetes nurse, ECG, phlebotomy, spirometry, physiotherapy, mental health and other.
• Social prescribing – personalised patient care focused on prevention and physical and mental wellness.

You may not notice much change to begin with, but over time, you may see a wider range of services becoming available in you GP practice or at another practice within your PCN.

What will remain the same?

You will still be registered with your GP practice and will continue to access GP services in the usual way.

To ensure continuity of care within the PCN GP practices and other organisations that are involved in patients’ care, the PCN must ensure that appropriate data sharing arrangements are in place and comply with the General Data Protection Regulations.

If you have not already given your consent, your GP practice will ask for your permission to share summary medical record with the PCN GP practices and allied health service providers.

You have the right to restrict or object to sharing your personal data.

A PCN can be a great opportunity to improve quality and access to health services for your local community.

If you would like to influence how services are being developed and delivered at GP practice or PCN level, join your GP practice patient participation group or ask how else you can get involved.

• The Garway Medical Practice
• Grand Union Health Centre
• Holland Park Surgery
• Lancaster Gate Medical Centre
• North Kensington Medical Centre
• The Portland Road Practice
• Portobello Medical Centre
• The Pembridge Villas Surgery
• Westbourne Grove Medical Centre

If you live in Queens Park, Paddington or Kensington and Chelsea, your surgery will belong to one of five primary care networks (PCN).

Information about Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham primary care networks are available on Healthwatch Central West London website.

Healthwatch Central West London is an independent charity and membership organisation that makes sure the concerns and ideas of local patients help to shape local health and care services.

To find out about our work, visit our website www.healthwatchcwl.co.uk.

Tel. 020 8968 7049