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GETTING MAXIMUM VALUE FROM YOUR PCN TOOLKIT
DATE: 2023 | LOCATION: HUMBER AND NORTH YORKSHIRE | PROJECT AREA: STRATEGIC ADVICE/DATA INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS | PROJECT STATUS: COMPLETE
Primary Care network (PCN) toolkits are being rolled out across the country, designed to collect and analyse data which will help Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) forward plan to make informed decisions about future funding allocations and link into their wider infrastructure strategies.
The toolkit provides PCNs with a consistent way of creating estates strategies, by prepopulating data benchmarked to national standards, and including key statistics on local population projections, demographics, health needs and the impact this will have on GP contact rates.
The challenge
The toolkit data collection is only the start. PCNs and ICB then need to work out how best to use the data to create strategies and identify priorities that will help improve the services provided for all patients.
Our team, on behalf of Citycare, has been working with Humber and North Yorkshire ICB to create and deliver best value from their PCN toolkits.
The solution
Firstly, we reviewed the data collected, ensuring everyone understands its strengths and limitations. Our team held workshops with each PCN in the area to present them with information from the baseline toolkit, ensuring that any gaps were filled and any inaccuracies corrected. We then spoke with the PCNs about their challenges and priorities, what they’re already doing to solve their issues, and where further action is needed.
Finally, the team worked through solutions to the challenges with each PCN. These included modest interventions such as extending opening hours, converting underused spaces to clinical use and sharing space with other public sector organisations, to major projects involving extensions and new buildings where needed.
The result
The individual workshops left each PCN with a list of estate-based priorities, and ways in which they could resolve their biggest issues, giving them a way to move forward to get maximum value from their current assets.
Going beyond this initial impact, the value of the PCN toolkits is even greater at ICB level where PCN strategies were combined to create an overall place or ICB-level strategy. Both tools allowed the ICB to prioritise and the identify primary issues, and make informed investment decisions around the best use of capital funding.
“Working through our PCN toolkit data has really helped us clarify our primary care requirements over the next few years, and helped align our estates goals to our clinical plan. The workshops have enabled us to focus on priorities, make the best use of assets we already have, and also to think innovatively about what we can do to make our services better. We’ve valued how engaged practices have been to produce a valued piece of strategic thinking.”
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