Clinical Directors

Overview

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).

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.

Each PCN will have a named accountable Clinical Director, supporting delivery. They provide leadership for networks strategic plans, through working with member practices and the wider PCN to improve the quality and effectiveness of the network services.

Together, the Clinical Directors will play a critical role in shaping and supporting their Integrated Care System (ICS), helping to ensure full engagement of Primary Care in developing and implementing local system plans to implement the NHS Long Term Plan.

The role of the clinical lead will vary according to the particular characteristics of the network, including its maturity and local context, working with the ICS to develop local plans addressing local needs.

Being a PCN Clinical Director