Primary Care Networks

Primary Care Networks have been around for a number of years now and there is some useful background to them here, as well as this excellent explanation from the Kings Fund here. And of course they have their own section on the NHS England web pages. Whilst they are developing and taking on new and expanding roles is important to be aware of the Information Governance aspects of them.

The first point to make very clear is that at present PCNs are not legal entities. This document from NHS England makes this very clear. This means that as a PCN they cannot enter into legally binding agreements such as contracts or data sharing, this must still be done at GP Practice level.

All PCNs should have a document that describes the organisational set up and there is a template here for this purpose. This document then has at Schedule 2.2 a section to record information sharing arrangement. Two specific templates for Data Sharing and Data processing agreements have been developed.

Sharing and using patient information for direct care is unaffected and it is anticipated that a legal change to their status should be coming soon which will be helpful as PCNs develop to take on more functions and integrated care.