Since the creation of the National Health Service in 1948, the population has increased each year. People are also living longer with more and more complex long term conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues that need the help and support of a wide range of clinicians, health professionals and experts. The NHS Long Term Plan set out new and exciting ways of meeting the challenge of our growing population and helping them to live healthy, happy lives.

The Birmingham and Solihull PCN member practices have always worked closely with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas, and the new primary care networks bring local practices together into groups to support our population in receiving fully integrated care closer to home.

Over the next two years, your local primary care network will focus on delivering these key elements:

• Structured medicines review and optimisation
• Enhanced health in care homes
• Anticipatory care
• Personalised care
• Supporting early cancer diagnosis
• Cardiovascular disease prevention and diagnosis
• Tackling neighbourhood inequalities

A list of the primary care networks within the NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG footprint is available at www.birminghamandsolihullccg.nhs.uk – NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group Primary Care Networks.

You can find out more about primary care networks at www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/primary-care-networks or watch the below animation: