The NHS trusts muscling in on PCNs

The NHS trusts muscling in on PCNs PCNs – the new groupings of GP practices central to the NHS long-term plan – must all choose an organisation to manage funding and employ the substantial additional staff they are due to take on in coming years. They can choose either one of their own member GP practices, a GP federation or “voluntary sector organisation”, or an NHS trust or foundation trust.
HSJ analysis has discovered that four NHS provider trusts which are directly or obliquely filling this role – often known as their “banker” but officially referred to as the “nominated payee”.

These four trusts – Humber, Yeovil District Hospital, Southern Health and Royal Wolverhampton – already run, or jointly run, general practice services in their area, under existing arrangements. The payee receives funds from NHS England and local commissioners on behalf of the network, dispersing the money to pay practices for participating, providing services, and for salaries of network workforce. It is also envisaged that they will often employ the staff. Health Service Journal