Lichfield and Burntwood
Primary care Networks
What is a PCN ?
A Primary Care Network (PCN)
is an area of the UK where all health and social care services work together to deliver a better experience for their citizens.
To meet these needs, GP practices are working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as primary care networks (PCNs).
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PCNs build on existing primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and more integrated health and social care for people close to home. Clinicians describe this as a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively caring for the people and communities they serve.
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Each of the 1,250 PCNs across England are based on GP registered patient lists, typically serving natural communities of between 30,000 to 50,000 people (with some flexibility). They are small enough to provide the personal care valued by both people and GPs, but large enough to have impact and economies of scale through better collaboration between GP practices and others in the local health and social care system.
PCNs are led by clinical directors who may be a GP, general practice nurse, clinical pharmacist or other clinical profession working in general practice.
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PCNs are part of NHS England's long-term plan.
For a more in-depth explanation of Primary Care Networks, click here.
Where it all started.
The Lichfield and Burntwood GP Network Ltd (The Network) was founded on the 4th of May 2018 to facilitate the joined-up working of the Lichfield and Burntwood PCNs. Historically the 6 practices (now 5 as Boney Hay merged with Langton) have always worked closely together.
The practices wanted to work together to deliver a local care home service and so the company was set up to enable this before the contract came into place. This was the first contract secured by the Network,
following this, they secured an APMS contract for Extended Access and then the Network DES came about and everything else followed. ​
Dr Nicholas Digby York (Digby) was originally the chair of the Network and has now re-joined as the Director for Westgate.
Dr James Ward joined as Clinical Directors for Lichfield and Burntwood, Dr James Ward has now stepped down and been replaced by Dr Douglas Price 2023 .
Dr . Gulshan emigrated to New Zealand in May 2020 and was replaced by Dr Shalim Kharim as CD for Lichfield.
As the work being delivered through the PCNs ramped up, it was decided that they needed someone to manage
the Network this was when Kelvin Edge (PCN Business Manager) joined on the 3rd of February 2020 .
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In 2023 The PCN took on there first digital and transformation manger Leanne Stevens to work alongside Kelvin Edge . The Digital and Transformation Lead role was introduced as a reimbursable role via the ARRS in October 2022 to support transformation activities in PCNs, including the adoption and effective use of technology.
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The role of the Network is to facilitate collaborative working between the practices so that they can deliver high-quality care to patients.​
Where we are now
We have grown rapidly since February 2020 , when there was one person who worked 20 hours per week. To 33 ARRS staff and 5 management working over 1400 hours per week of clinical care. ​
In terms of ARRS roles we employ Clinical Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Nurse Associates, Physician Associates Health & Well-being Coach and Care Co-ordinators. We then contract with UHDB, MPFT and Support Staffordshire for First Contact Physio's, Mental Health Workers and Social Prescribers.​
We work with MPFT on the Care Homes part of the DES. This is nineteen homes including LD and a total of 694 beds of which 74% are occupied by the Networks patients.​
Our Vision
Our vision for the future of Lichfield and Burntwood PCN is to create a patient care system that includes everyone. A system where member practices work closely together and in collaboration with health and social care, voluntary sectors, community groups and local people to deliver efficient and timely personalised care. To make the best use of available resources to ensure that everyone gets the right support, in the right place, at the right time.
