Primary Care Networks

What are PCN's?

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan, with general practices being a part of a network, typically covering 30,000–50,000 patients. They are small enough to provide the personal care valued by both patients and GPs, but large enough to have impact and economies of scale through better collaboration between practices and others in the local health and social care system.

We currently support 7 PCNs in Bolton:

  • Bolton Central
  • Breightmet and Little Lever
  • Chorley Roads
  • Farnworth and Kearsley
  • HWL (Halliwell, Waters Meeting and Lever Chambers)
  • Rumworth
  • Westhoughton

The networks provide the structure and funding for services to be developed locally, in response to the needs of the patients they serve.

The Federation has employed a dedicated team to support PCNs, which includes Network Managers and Deputy Network Managers who assist the Clinical Directors with the organisation and project management of the contractual specifications, including the Directed Enhanced Service, such as early cancer diagnosis, support to care homes and medicines optimisation.

The Federation also acts as the host employer for the PCNs, employing from the roles available under the Annual Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), including:

  • Social Prescribing Link Workers
  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy Technicians
  • First Contact Physiotherapists (in partnership with Bolton NHS FT)
  • Physician Associates
  • Nursing Associates
  • Mental Health Practitioners (in partnership with Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust).
If you’d like to know more about our Primary Care Networks or to arrange a meeting with a Network Manager

Our Primary Care Networks at a glance

Reflections and Priorities for 2022/23

It has been a busy year for our Central PCN, whilst practices are still recovering from the effects the pandemic has had on them and their patients.

This year we have welcomed to the PCN:

  • Dr Adil Khan – Clinical Director
  • Tania – Paramedic
  • Sharron – Paramedic
  • Arvind – Social Prescribing Link Worker
  • Tayyeba – Pharmacist
  • Abeer – Pharmacist
  • Iqra – Pharmacist
  • Karen – Pharmacist
  • Joseph – MSK Practitioner
  • David – MSK Practitioner
  • Kay – Pharmacy Technician

We have been successful in meeting a high number of our targets and have carried out some new and exciting projects with new members of the Primary Care Network (PCN) Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) team, which haven’t been trialled in the PCN before. This includes our two new Paramedics taking a lead on Learning Disabilities and Severe Mental Illness patients, which resulted in massive improvements on the care plans and physical health reviews for the patients.

We have been working on the implementation of a number of new specifications such as Cardiovascular Disease, Extended Access and Tackling Neighbourhood Health Inequalities. I look forward to continuing the partnership working across all sectors to improve the health of our population, whilst continuing to work on the original specifications.

We will also be focusing on the ARRS roles and looking at how we can recruit and embed more clinicians into the PCN to support our member practices.

I would like to thank each member practice for their continued support during 2021-2022 and I look forward to the coming year!

Matthew Mann, Network Manager

Chorley Roads PCN

Clinical Director: Dr Dharmesh Mistry, Heaton Medical Centre
Network Manager: Victoria Westwood
Deputy Network Manager:
Chloe Jackson

Reflections and Priorities for 2022/23

It has been a busy year for Chorley Roads Primary Care Network (PCN). Whilst continuing to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine programme, we have continued to recruit our Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff. We have welcomed to the PCN:

  • Bart Gadulski – Paramedic
  • Kirsty Broadbent – Pharmacy Technician
  • Chloe Jackson – Social Prescribing Link Worker
  • Naeem Wadiwala – Physicians Associate
  • Stuart Barker – Musculoskeletal Practitioner

We have also welcomed Dr Sheetal Saagar as our Health Inequalities lead.

We have been successful in meeting a high number of our targets and carried out some exciting projects with new members of the PCN ARRS team. Our Pharmacy team successfully carried out our Learning Disability Quality Improvement Project.

We have also been successful in fulfilling a some of our PCN Impact and Investment Fund targets.

We’ve been working on the implementation of several new specifications such as Cardiovascular Disease, Extended Access and Tackling Neighbourhood Health Inequalities. I look forward to continuing the partnership working across all sectors to improve the health of our population, whilst also working on the original specifications.

Next year we will be focusing on the ARRS roles and how we can recruit and embed more clinicians into the PCN to support our member practices. We also have Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioners joining the team to support patients with their mental health, which is a new role for our PCN.

I would like to thank each member practice for their continued support during 2021-2022 and the exceptional work each and every member of the ARRS team have contributed over the last 12 months.

Victoria Westwood, Network Manager

Farnworth and Kearsley PCN

Clinical Director: Dr George Ogden, Kearsley Medical Centre
Network Manager: Victoria Westwood
Deputy Network Manager:
Chloe Jackson

Reflections and Priorities for 2022/23

It has been a busy year for Farnworth and Kearsley Primary Care Network (PCN). Whilst continuing to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine programme, we have continued to recruit our Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff. We have welcomed:

  • Rachel Glennon – Paramedic
  • Harry Theocharus – Musculoskeletal Practitioner
  • Cheryl Schofield – Paramedic
  • Jane Spotswood – Social Prescribing Link Worker
  • Emma Booth – Pharmacy Technician
  • Lauren Antoni – Pharmacy Technician
  • Apryl Yip – Pharmacist
  • Matthew Wood – Mental Health Practitioner

We have also recruited two Deputy Clinical Directors Dr Zafar Chowdhury who leads on the Investment and Impact Fund and Dr Nikki Barua who leads on the community multidisciplinary teams.

We have been successful in meeting a high number of our targets and carried out some exciting projects with new members of the PCN ARRS team. Our Pharmacy team successfully carried out our Learning Disability Quality Improvement Project.

We have been working on the implementation of several new specifications such as Cardiovascular Disease, Extended Access and Tackling Neighbourhood Health Inequalities. I look forward to continuing the partnership working across all sectors to improve the health of our population, whilst continuing to work on the original specifications.

We will also be focusing on the ARRS roles and how we can recruit and embed more clinicians into the PCN to support our member practices.

I would like to thank each member practice for their continued support during 2021–2022 and the exceptional work each and every member of the ARRS team have contributed over the last 12 months.

Victoria Westwood, Network Manager

Reflections and Priorities for 2022/23

It has been a busy year for our Halliwell Primary Care Network (PCN). Whilst practices are still recovering from the effects the pandemic has had on them and their patients.

We have welcomed to the PCN team:

  • Dr Aiyub Nakhuda – Deputy Clinical Director
  • Social Prescribing Link Worker – Andrea
  • Pharmacists – Rebena and Raeesah
  • Nursing Associate – Lizzi

We have been successful in meeting some of our PCN Impact and Investment Fund targets, and have been working on the implementation of a number of new specifications such as Cardiovascular Disease, Extended Access and Tackling Neighbourhood Health Inequalities.

I look forward to continuing the partnership working across all sectors to improve the health of our population, whilst continuing to work on the original specifications.

Next year we will be focusing on the ARRS roles and how we can recruit and embed more clinicians into the PCN to support our member practices.

We are currently in the process of recruiting additional Musculoskeletal Practitioners and a Trainee Nursing Associate, which will be our first TNA role within the PCN. We also have Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioners joining the team to support patients with their mental health, which is a new role for our PCN.

I would like to thank each member practice for their continued support during 2021–2022 and I look forward to coming year.

Matthew Mann, Network Manager

Rumworth PCN

Clinical Director: Dr Saveena Ghaie
Network Manager: Amy Humphries
Deputy Network Manager:
Abby Edmonds

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Reflections and Priorities for 2022/23

It has been a busy year for our Rumworth Primary Care Network (PCN). Whilst practices are still recovering from the effects the pandemic has had on them and their patients.

We have welcomed to the PCN team:

  • Emily Lucas – Musculoskeletal (MSK) Practitioner
  • Adam Blaney – Paramedic
  • Declan Fraser Higgins – Paramedic
  • Fehmida Yusuf – Pharmacist

We have been successful in meeting some of our PCN Impact and Investment Fund targets, and have been working on the implementation of a number of new specifications such as Cardiovascular Disease, Extended Access and Tackling Neighbourhood Health Inequalities.

I look forward to continuing the partnership working across all sectors to improve the health of our population, whilst continuing to work on the original specifications.

We will also be focusing on the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) roles and how we can recruit and embed more clinicians into the PCN to support our member practices. We are currently in the process of recruiting additional MSK Practitioners and a Trainee Nursing Associate which will be our first TNA role within the PCN.

We also have Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioners joining the team to support patients with their mental health, which is a new role for our PCN.

I would like to thank each member practice for their continued support during 2021–2022 and I look forward to coming year.

Matthew Mann, Network Manager

Westhoughton PCN

Clinical Director: Dr Beverley Matta, Unsworth Group Practice
Network Manager: Kristy Barlow
Deputy Network Manager: 
Heather Porter

Reflections and Priorities for 2022/23

The Westhoughton PCN has continued to excel this year with hitting the Directed Enhanced Service (DES) and Impact and Investment Fund (IIF) targets, alongside providing regular COVID-19 vaccination sessions to the local population.

We have welcomed new Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff to the PCN, and I look forward to continuing to recruit new roles into the team over the next 12 months, as well as working through the new and ever growing DES requirements for 2022/23.

We have welcomed to the PCN team:

  • David Carter – Physician Associate
  • Alisha Walters – Musculoskeletal (MSK) Practitioner
  • Alison Lowe – Social Prescribing Link Worker

Our prioritises for the forthcoming year include:

  • Presentation to the ARRS staff on the new DES/IIF targets
  • Mobilisation of the Health Inequalities project
  • Provide monthly updates to the PCN on targets and achievements
  • Commence the use of ARDENS templates manager
  • Induct the new Pharmacy Technician into the practices

Kristy Barlow, Network Manager