About Wimborne & Ferndown Primary Care Network (PCN)

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) were created in 2019 so that neighbouring GP Practices could work together to share resources and services within the member Practices.  They were created to meet growing healthcare demands from an aging population and people with long-term conditions. 

The Wimborne & Ferndown PCN comprises The Quarter Jack Surgery and branch site The Old Dispensary and Walford Mill Medical Practice in Wimborne and Orchid House Surgery and Penny's Hill Practice in Ferndown, covering 42,500 patients in total.

PCNs work with other local services like hospitals, pharmacies, mental health providers, and social care. This collaboration helps them provide better coordinated care for their communities, shifting from just offering appointments to actively managing people's health needs.

The main benefits of PCNs include:

• Making it easier to hire and keep staff
• Sharing resources to reduce costs
• Offering more services to patients
• Better integration with other healthcare services
• Ability to hire different types of healthcare workers, like physiotherapists and social prescribers

The network model helps practices stay small enough to provide personal care while being large enough to work efficiently and effectively.