Oct 21, 20224 min read

Autumn / Winter Primary Care Network Reminders (2022)

Updated: Dec 20, 2022

( Dates for your diary in October, November and December )

We thought we would compile some key dates for our Primary Care Network colleagues, which are coming up over the next few weeks.

1. Workforce planning submission | 31st October 2022

2. FREE webinars covering the role of the Physician Associate and Pharmacy Technician | 2nd November 2022

3. National Workforce Reporting Service – 31st October 2022 and 31st December 2022

We also signpost you to the latest changes regarding the PCN DES and Impact and Investment fund, just in case you have missed these.

Let's jump in!

DISCLAIMER:

There will no doubt be other pressing priorities to work on. This blog just presents some further areas.

If you're new in post, please check out our blog What to focus on in Q3 too.

1. Primary Care Network Workforce Planning

As part of the 2021/22 Network contract DES section 7, PCNs must complete a workforce planning return to signal their planning intentions for 2022/23 by 31 August 2022 with a further update for 2022/23 and indicative intentions through to 2023/24 by 31 October 2022 for roles included in the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS).

The deadline for the planning intentions of 2022/23 has passed. However, there is still a requirement to submit your PCNs indicative intentions through to 2023/24 by 31 October 2022.

(Apparently), failure to submit this information may mean that the ICB may not be able to redistribute the unallocated ARRS funding to enable PCNs to bring forward recruitment intentions for subsequent years.

Guidance can be found below.

The link to the portal can be found below.

https://online1.snapsurveys.com/interview/32f86307-8f40-4af7-bdab-7a3291376f15

2. National Workforce Reporting Service – Extraction Reminder

GP practice data will be extracted from the NWRS platform for the preparation of workforce statistics at the end of October. PCN data extractions are currently quarterly but will increase in frequency to monthly from January 2023. The information you provide will only be published at an aggregate level; for more information on how we use the data you provide, please visit their website.

How to update workforce data

Please log into your Strategic Data Collections Service (SDCS) account before 31 October to check your workforce details and update them as necessary. Once you are logged into the SDCS, you will need to:

Click Submission > New
Select National Workforce Reporting Service - NWRS from the Collection drop-down list
Click Create

Further Help & Support To find out more about the NWRS platform, you can:

watch a 2-minute video about why your staff data is important
read a summary of what’s changed & what’s coming soon
watch the ‘How to’ video to learn how to access and amend your data
email enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk quoting ‘NWRS' in the subject

A guidance section is included NWRS support webpage and includes written information on topics such as how to mark staff as leavers, how to delete a record, how to transfer someone from one practice to another practice, how to record locum hours, and how to record PCN staff and Contracted Services (included average weekly hours fields) information.

You can also access a summary of your practice’s/PCN’s data quality and completeness on our dashboard here: NWRS dashboard

Extraction reminder Data extracts are now taken monthly from general practice (at the end of each month). For PCNs, this remains at the end of each quarter.

· The next Practice data extraction will be on 31 October 2022.

· The next PCN data extraction will be on 31 December 2022.

· *2023 PCN data extractions will be monthly, starting on 31 January 2023*

IMPORTANT: If you are not the correct person to submit your workforce data, please contact enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk to tell them who is responsible for this task in your practice or PCN. It is the responsibility of practices and PCNs to keep NHS Digital updated with current NWRS user details, and they recommend having at least two users per organisation so that changes in personnel can be managed easily.

3. FREE Webinars

On the 2nd November, 2022, we have two FREE webinars coming up, which may be of interest.

Click here to register your place

Click here to register your place

These webinars form part of a series we are hosting where we take a deep dive into all of the ARRS roles to gain a greater understanding of how to make them a success.

These webinars are not “Look how great we are”. Their more….. I wouldn’t advise you do XZY! 😊

4. The Winter Primary Care Network Update 2022

(Supporting General Practice, Primary Care Networks, and their teams through winter and beyond)

On the 26th of September 2022, NHS England released a letter and a guidance document titled. Supporting general practice, primary care networks and their teams through winter and beyond, detailing plans for:

· Additional resources and funding

· Suspension of non-essential work for Primary Care Networks

· Amendments to the Impact and Investment Fund

Check out this blog here for the highlights: https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/post/the-winter-primary-care-network-update-2022

5. An Introduction to the System Development Funding (SDF) for Primary Care Network Leaders.

In this blog, we break down:

1. What is the System Development Funding (AKA the SDF). This was also released on 26th September

2. The additional funding streams PCNs will be receiving and responsible for

3. The nine pots of funding PCNs are responsible for

Check out the full blog here: https://www.thcprimarycare.co.uk/post/an-introduction-to-the-system-development-funding-sdf-for-primary-care-network-leaders

We hope this helps.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm Tara; I am the founder of THC Primary Care, an award-winning healthcare consultancy specialising in Primary Care Network Management and the host of the Business of Healthcare Podcast, where we have now published over 200 episodes. I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sectors, and I have supported over 50 PCNs by providing interim management, training and consultancy.

I have managed teams across multiple sites and countries; I have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare, I'm published in the London Journal of Primary Care, and I am the author of over 250 blogs.

I have 3 children. My eldest has Asthma, my middle child has a kidney condition called Nephrotic Syndrome, and my youngest daughter has Type 1 Diabetes, so outside of work, healthcare plays a huge role in my life.