Network Contract DES

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Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) is a contractual framework for PCNs in the NHS, supporting collaborative working across GP practices.

What is Network Contract DES?

What is ?

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) is a key contractual framework introduced by NHS England that enables Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to deliver enhanced services beyond core general practice. It provides the formal basis for PCNs to receive funding, employ additional workforce, and deliver nationally specified services. The Network Contract DES supports collaborative working across GP practices, encouraging them to work at scale to improve patient care, achieve economies of scale, and address workload pressures. It represents a significant component of the NHS Long Term Plan's commitment to integrated primary care.

Network Contract DES Best Practices

What is ?

  • Ensure all member practices in the PCN sign up to the Network Contract DES to maximise funding opportunities.
  • Develop robust governance arrangements that clearly define decision-making processes for Network Contract DES delivery.
  • Regularly review the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) component to optimise workforce planning.
  • Implement effective clinical leadership to drive service improvements across the specifications.
  • Engage with local stakeholders including community services and local authorities to deliver integrated care.

Use Network Contract DES in a Sentence

What is ?

  1. Our GP practice has signed up to the Network Contract DES as part of our commitment to collaborative working.
  2. The Network Contract DES specifications require PCNs to deliver structured medication reviews for priority patient groups.
  3. Funding through the Network Contract DES has enabled our PCN to employ two clinical pharmacists and a social prescribing link worker.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Network Contract DES

What does Network Contract DES mean?

Network Contract DES stands for Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service. It is a contractual framework introduced by NHS England that enables Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to deliver enhanced services beyond core general practice. The DES provides the formal mechanism for PCNs to receive funding, employ additional staff through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), and deliver nationally specified services to improve patient care across networked GP practices.

How does a practice join the Network Contract DES?

To join the Network Contract DES, a practice must first be part of a Primary Care Network (PCN). The practice needs to sign up during the annual opt-in period (typically at the start of the financial year) by completing and returning the required participation form to their local NHS commissioner. All practices within a PCN must sign up to the DES for the network to be eligible. The practice will need to agree to the terms of the PCN's Network Agreement and commit to delivering the service requirements specified in the DES contract.

What services must PCNs deliver under the Network Contract DES?

Under the Network Contract DES, PCNs must deliver several nationally specified services known as specifications. These currently include: Structured Medication Reviews and Optimisation, Enhanced Health in Care Homes, Supporting Early Cancer Diagnosis, Personalised Care, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Diagnosis, Tackling Neighbourhood Health Inequalities, and Anticipatory Care. PCNs must also participate in the Investment and Impact Fund (IIF), which rewards networks for achieving specific targets, and utilise funding from the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) to expand their multidisciplinary teams.

How is Network Contract DES funding calculated and distributed?

Network Contract DES funding is calculated based on several components. The core PCN funding provides £1.50 per patient per year to support the Clinical Director role and network infrastructure. The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) provides funding for specific healthcare roles, covering 100% of actual salary and employer on-costs, up to maximum reimbursable amounts. Extended hours access payments support additional clinical capacity. The Investment and Impact Fund (IIF) offers incentive payments for meeting specific indicators. Funding is typically paid to the nominated payee of the PCN (usually the lead practice) who then distributes it according to the PCN's Network Agreement.

What is the relationship between Network Contract DES and the NHS Long Term Plan?

The Network Contract DES is a fundamental implementation mechanism for the NHS Long Term Plan's primary care strategy. The Long Term Plan set out ambitions for integrated care delivered at neighbourhood level through Primary Care Networks, with the Network Contract DES providing the contractual and funding framework to achieve this. The DES supports the Plan's key objectives including expanding the primary care workforce, improving proactive care for high-need patients, implementing personalised care approaches, enhancing care in care homes, and addressing health inequalities. The service specifications within the DES directly align with the Long Term Plan priorities and evolve annually to support its progressive implementation.

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