Primary Care Networks

Primary care services are often the first point of contact in the healthcare system for patients and includes general practice, community pharmacy, dentists and optometrists. In Hampshire and Isle of Wight, we have 140 practices working alongside us and all of these practices are part of a Primary Care Network (PCN)

Your local general practice team is the main point of contact for general healthcare and is there to support you with getting the right kind of care and support for your needs.

General Practitioners (GPs) are highly skilled doctors who support patients throughout their lives. They work as part of a general practice team of professionals to help you manage your health and wellbeing, so you may see someone other than your GP when you contact the practice.

Your general practice team is the first point of contact if you:

• have an urgent care need
• have concerns about your mental health
• have an illness that does not improve with self-treatment
• are worried about your health including symptoms of cancer, giving up smoking or weight loss
• have an ongoing health condition you need support with

General practice teams will have confidential access to your previous medical history with them so will be able to support you and your health.

What is a Primary Care Network?

A Primary Care Network (PCN) comprises of GP practices working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas.

The PCNs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which build on existing primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised, co-ordinated and more integrated health and social care for local people close to home.

PCNs are led by Clinical Directors who may be a GP, general practice nurse, clinical pharmacist or other clinical profession working in general practice.