Frequently Asked Questions about Primary Care Networks

Primary care networks (PCNs) are groups of practices that work together, enabling us to employ a range of professionals to improve the health and wellbeing of our Hayling Island and Emsworth population. Our PCN is formed of three local GP practices which are The Elms Practice, Emsworth Surgery and Waterside Medical Practice.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have the potential to benefit patients by offering improved access and extending the range of services available to them, and by helping to integrate primary care with wider health and community services. For example, wellbeing, mental health, stress and anxiety, pharmacy and paramedic services as well as GP services.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have the potential to benefit patients by offering improved access and extending the range of services available to them, and by helping to integrate primary care with wider health and community services. For example, wellbeing, mental health, stress and anxiety, pharmacy and paramedic services as well as GP services.

Primary care is anything you access directly. This includes general practitioners (GPs), health visitors, dentists and opticians. Primary care provides the first point of contact in the healthcare system. It is the route by which we most commonly access other parts of the NHS, such as hospital care.

Secondary care describes the sort of services you might be referred to if your child needs to be seen by someone with more specialist knowledge. Secondary care includes hospital services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS) and child development centres. Usually a referral from a primary care practitioner is required to access secondary care.