Primary care networks in deprived areas need extra funding to meet England’s health needs, says Health Foundation

General practices in poorer areas of England are missing out on funding and additional staff because their patient populations’ needs have not been adequately considered in the current funding arrangements, the Health Foundation has warned.1In an analysis the think tank looked at the effect of primary care networks (PCNs) on deprived areas. PCNs were established in England in 2019, bringing together general practices into local groups to recruit new staff, deliver additional services, and reduce inequalities. It found that practices in more deprived areas had “fewer doctors and less funding compared with practices in wealthier areas after accounting for health needs.”When adjusted for the needs of the patient population, PCNs in the 20% most deprived areas employed six fewer full time equivalent staff per 100 000 patients than those in the 20% least deprived areas, the analysis showed. If deprivation were properly accounted for in the funding formula, PCNs in…
Read Original Article: Primary care networks in deprived areas need extra funding to meet England’s health needs, says Health Foundation »