Primary Care Networks: briefing paper for VCSE sector organisations
National Voices has produced a briefing paper (link available below) for Primary Care Networks, and for the broader voluntary and community, social enterprise sector. This paper highlights some ways that VCSE organisations may be able to get involved, but also emphasises that it is still early days for PCNs so there is a need to manage expectations. The briefing may not tell you anything you don't already know - but it may be useful for your work with partners.
The information in this briefing is for any group or organisation in the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, including umbrella bodies and networks. It explains a new way in which health and care services are being organised locally across all of England: primary care networks (PCNs). The main purpose of the resource is to explore how VCSE organisations might supply knowledge, expertise and training to help PCNs develop. This could be significant in making sure the PCNs – as they are supposed to do – become closely engaged with their local population and focus on what matters most to individuals and communities.
Who are National Voices?
National Voices is the coalition of health and care charities in England, working for person centred and community-based care to become mainstream. Over the last eight years it has worked to build the evidence base for these approaches, to influence national policy to adopt them, and to promote and support them in local health and care systems.
It helped to produce NHS England and NHS Improvement’s ‘Universal, Personalised Care’ delivery plan, published in January 2019 as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Under this plan, they have helped the PCN national programme to develop materials and resources for PCNs.
National Voices is a member of the Voluntary Sector Health and Wellbeing Alliance, a partnership that works on policy priorities, especially health inequalities, with NHS England and NHS Improvement and other national bodies.
The paper is designed to be easy to follow, and it explains jargon in an accessible way.
