Primary Care Network

Project Brief

This project was particularly unique due to the initial uncertainty surrounding funding sources for PCN space, which required exploration before identifying the Integrated Care Board (ICB) as the appropriate funding stream and business case recipient. The additional space will allow the PCN to expand its services and enhance patient care, better meeting the needs of the community.

The current lack of space made it challenging to provide all necessary services and to recruit and retain roles under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). A business case was required covering strategic context related to national and local priorities, the case for change, key benefits, risks, constraints, and dependencies.

We also conducted an options appraisal of the available estate options for the PCN, outlining the financial implications for the ICB, and recommending the next steps for implementation.

The Solution

We developed the strong business case, which included:

• Establishing the case for change to illustrate the need for a new facility and the objectives of the scheme, including adapting their care model to a hub-based approach to enhance and expand services.

• Aligning the scheme with national and local priorities.

• Conducting an options appraisal of available sites, including financial analysis and evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each before selecting the preferred option. 
  
  
• We performed an in-depth financial assessment of the costs associated with moving to the new premises, including capital and revenue cost.
  
  We also engaged with key stakeholders, including the ICB, to explain the challenges faced by the PCN and the objectives they aimed to achieve. We discussed the ICB's expectations for the business case to increase the likelihood of success.

The Results

The business case has been submitted to the ICB and is awaiting confirmation of funding. It has been received positively, and the ICB are expected to approve it in the coming months.