Primary Care Nework (PCN)
‍Terms & Definitions

Unlock the essential terminology every GP practice and pharmacy team needs to know to excel in primary care.

A-C

ARRS Funding is an NHS England scheme providing financial support to Primary Care Networks for hiring additional roles to expand their healthcare teams.

Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS)

A funding programme enabling Primary Care Networks to recruit additional healthcare professionals to expand multidisciplinary teams in GP practices.

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)

An unwanted, harmful effect caused by normal doses of medication, requiring monitoring, reporting and potentially treatment modification.

Chronic Disease Management

A systematic approach to healthcare that focuses on the proactive treatment, monitoring and support of patients with long-term conditions.

Clinical Audit

A systematic process that improves patient care through reviewing clinical performance against explicit standards and implementing changes.

Clinical Pharmacist

A healthcare professional specialising in medicines management who works within UK primary care networks to optimise medication use and patient outcomes.

Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) Programme

An NHS England framework to improve healthcare services for care home residents through structured collaboration between health, social care and care providers.

Enhanced/Extended Access Support

Services provided by Primary Care Networks to ensure patients can access GP appointments outside traditional hours, including evenings and weekends.

D-F

Directed Enhanced Service (DES)

A contractual arrangement in the NHS that enables GP practices to deliver additional services beyond core contract requirements.

Formulary

A formulary is an approved list of medicines that can be prescribed by healthcare professionals within a specific healthcare setting.

G-I

GP Contract 25/26

The GP Contract 25/26 outlines the terms, conditions, and funding arrangements for General Practitioners in England for the 2025-2026 financial year.

GP Practice

A GP Practice is a primary healthcare facility where General Practitioners (family doctors) provide medical services to local communities in the UK.

Health Inequalities

Systematic, avoidable differences in health outcomes between populations due to social, economic, geographical or other environmental factors.

Impact and Investment Fund (IIF)

A financial incentive scheme for Primary Care Networks in England that rewards quality improvement and achievement of specific health outcomes.

Independent Prescribing

A qualification allowing healthcare professionals to prescribe medicines autonomously within their competence, without requiring a doctor's supervision.

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)

Statutory NHS organisations that plan and commission healthcare services for local populations, replacing Clinical Commissioning Groups in 2022.

J-L

NHS Green Plan

A sustainability strategy document that outlines how an NHS organisation will reduce its environmental impact and meet net zero carbon targets.

M-O

Medication Optimisation

A person-centred approach to ensuring patients get the right medicines, at the right doses, at the right time, to achieve optimal outcomes.

Medication Reconciliation

A systematic process of comparing a patient's medication orders to all medications they're currently taking to avoid medication errors.

Medicines Safety Officer (MSO)

A designated healthcare professional responsible for promoting medication safety, reporting incidents, and implementing improvement measures within NHS organisations.

NHS

The NHS (National Health Service) is the UK's publicly funded healthcare system, providing comprehensive medical services to all residents.

NHS Neighbourhood Health

NHS Neighbourhood Health represents localised healthcare delivery within Primary Care Networks, serving populations of 30,000-50,000 through integrated care teams.

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

A voluntary incentive programme for GP practices in the UK that rewards them for delivering quality care and helping improve patient outcomes.

P-R

PCN Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES)

A contractual framework that enables Primary Care Networks to deliver enhanced services through additional funding and resources within the NHS.

Personalised Care Adjustment (PCA)

A coding mechanism within the Quality and Outcomes Framework that enables GPs to exclude patients from specific indicators based on individual circumstances.

Pharmacy Technician

A healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a pharmacist to prepare, dispense and supply medicines within primary care settings.

Polypharmacy

Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient, typically older adults, often defined as five or more medications.

Prescribing Safety Audit

A structured review process undertaken by primary care networks to identify potential medication safety issues and improve prescribing practices.

Primary Care Network (PCN)

A Primary Care Network is a group of GP practices working together with other healthcare providers to deliver coordinated care to local populations.

Remote Prescribing

The practice of issuing prescriptions without face-to-face consultation, using telephone, video, or online platforms within the NHS primary care system.

Repeat Prescribing

A system that allows patients to request regular medication without seeing their GP each time, improving efficiency in primary care.

S-U

Structured Medication Review (SMR)

A clinical service that provides comprehensive reviews of patients' medications to optimise usage, reduce risks, and improve health outcomes.

V-Z

Virtual Consultations

Digital appointments between healthcare providers and patients via video, phone, or messaging platforms, eliminating the need for in-person visits.

Services

Resources

Primary Care Nework (PCN)
‍Terms & Definitions

A-C

D-F

G-I

J-L

M-O

P-R

S-U

V-Z

Hire a remote pharmacist
by December 14

Primary Care Nework (PCN) ‍Terms & Definitions

A-C

D-F

G-I

J-L

M-O

P-R

S-U

V-Z

Hire a remote pharmacistby December 14

Primary Care Nework (PCN)
‍Terms & Definitions

Hire a remote pharmacist
by December 14