PCN DES 2025/26 | Will It Cover the National Insurance Increase?

At THC Primary Care, we provide resources to primary care network leaders.

The new Primary Care Network Contract DES for 2025/26 has been released.

While a few changes need to be unpacked, this blog focuses on the financials.

It's important to note that when it comes to the PCNs, the sole focus shouldn't be on the money; however, it is important as networks need to understand if the 25/26 allocation would cover the national insurance increase announced in the Autumn 2024 budget.

Let's jump in!

Teal graphic with text: "Primary Care Network Contract DES 2025/26. Will it cover the National Insurance increase? (Includes Calculator)".

Before we look into the additional roles reimbursement scheme, let’s look to see what’s changed.

Financial Entitlement	2024/25	2025/26	Change
Core PCN Funding	£2.967 per patient	£2.999 per patient	+£0.032
Enhanced Access Payment	£7.975	£8.427	+£0.452
Care Home Premium	£127.20 per bed	£130.253 per bed	+£3.053
Capacity and Access Support Payment	£3.248	£3.208	-£0.040
Local CAIP	£1.392	£1.375	-£0.017
Network Participation Payment	£1.761	£1.761	No change
Additional Roles Reimbursement Sum	£22.894	£26.631	+£3.737
Additional Roles Reimbursement GP Sum	£1.303	Now integrated into the overall ARRS budget	Structure change
Investment and Impact Fund	58 points at £198	58 points at £198	No change

To calculate your PCN Entitlements for 25/26, check out: https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/pcnfinances2526

The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme and National Insurance

The Autumn Budget 2024 announced that Employer's National Insurance contributions are increasing from 13.8% to 15% (a 1.2 percentage point increase), which created challenges for some networks that were at the top of their budget.

In the 25/26 DES, the additional roles reimbursement scheme funding has increased from £22.894 to £26.631 per weighted patient.

However....the GP ARRS figure of £1.303 in 2024/25 was only funded 6 months of the year. For a fair year-to-year comparison, this amount should be annualised.

2024/25: £22.894 + (£1.303 × 2) = £22.894 + £2.606 = £25.50
2025/26: £26.631

This means the combined pot has increased by approximately 4.4%.

The increase from £25.50 to £26.631 is a difference of £1.131 per weighted patient.

The NI Impact vs. Reimbursement Increases

Here's an illustrative comparison of how the NI changes stack up against the reimbursement rate increases from 24/25 to 25/26 for roles at a national level ( not at inner or outer London level).

The significant increase in GP ARRS funding from 2024/25 to 2025/26 is misleading. In 2024/25, the ARRS funding was only implemented for 6 months, which makes the year-to-year comparison look more dramatic than the actual increase.

The PCN Members Club includes our full-functionality salary calculators to help networks with their financial planning

What This Means for PCNs

Integrating the GP Sum into the main ARRS pot might provide more flexibility in how you deploy your workforce resources, but for most roles, the financial gains will be eaten up by the increased employer contributions.

Whilst you will have already conducted various scenarios back in 2024 to see what the NI increase would mean for your network, now you have confirmation.

We hope this helps.

Now let's look at the The 25/26 PCN DES and the expanded Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS)

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THC Primary Care is an award-winning healthcare consultancy specialising in Primary Care Network Management and the creator of the Business of Healthcare Podcast. With over 20 years in the industry, we've supported more than 200 PCNs through interim management, training, and consultancy.

Our expertise spans project management and business development across both private and public sectors. Our work has been published in the London Journal of Primary Care, and we've authored over 250 blogs sharing insights about primary care networks.

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