PCNs in the South West have benefited from a cash boost as ICBs in the region lead the way in releasing funds to the frontline according to an investigation by our sister title Pulse PCN.
A freedom of information (FOI) investigation, answered by all 42 ICBs, found that six ICBs had made assessments for the CAIP payments and had either paid or started to pay PCNs, with three of those being in the South West region of England. The other three are Surrey, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICBs.
All PCNs were given 100% of the available funds for CAIP in five of these ICBs – Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin; Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire; Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West; Devon; and Surrey Heartlands. (see map for details).
In the sixth – Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire – 15 out of 27 PCNs had so far received their maximum entitlement, as they were awaiting confirmation from PCNs on the delivery of their plans. However, the ICB said they ‘would expect all CAIP funding to be paid to PCNs’.
An additional five ICBs said all PCNs were expected to receive their full entitlement, however this had not been fully calculated. These were: Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Norfolk and Waveney; Dorset; Somerset; and South East London.
The capacity and access payment scheme was introduced in October 2022 as a monthly support payment.
But in the 2023/24 Network DES, this was split into two sections: 70% through a capacity and access payment (CAP) to be paid monthly based on adjusted population, and 30% as a capacity and access improvement payment (CAIP), based on PCN performance relating to access.
In order to be eligible for the CAP payment, PCNs had to submit plans to improve their patient access. All ICBs bar one said CAP payments had been paid in full to PCNs. South Yorkshire said 22 out of its 27 PCNs had received the payment, with the process ‘ongoing’ in Doncaster.
For CAIP, PCNs needed to demonstrate they had met the targets within the plans, with the available funding divided equally across three key areas of improvement. These are:
- Patient experience of contact.
- Ease of access and demand management.
- Accuracy of recording in appointment books.
CAP was expected to be worth around £137,000 over the financial year per average PCN, and CAIP around £59,000.
The deadline for ICBs to issue payment of CAIP is 31 August 2024, but assessment of PCNs against their access improvement plans started after 31 March 2024.
The FOI found that most ICBs were using their primary care teams to assess the improvement plans, however some, including The Black Country, Dorset, Frimley and Lancashire and South Cumbria, said this will happen with place teams.
Northamptonshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Sussex ICBs said their local LMCs would also be involved in the assessment process.
In April, NHS England said it was aiming for 90% of PCNs to meet the criteria to receive CAIP funding in 2024/25. In the letter, NHS England also asked ICBs to report their progress on how many PCNs have claimed CAIP payments.
The FOI was issued on 8 April and all responses received by 25 June 2024.
| ICB | Total funding for CAIP | How many PCNs received CAIP |
| Herefordshire and Worcestershire | £3,235,041 | All 15, but total payments pending |
| Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin | £590,688 | All 8 received the full amount |
| Norfolk and Waveney | £1,332,246 | We intend to pay all 17 PCNs based on agreed milestones |
| Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire | £1,129,000 | To date 15 out of 27 PCNs have been paid the maximum amount |
| Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire | £1,267,000 | All 20 received the full amount |
| Dorset | £989,000 | All 18 PCNs are expected to receive the full amount of funding |
| Somerset | £704,000 | It is anticipated that all 13 PCNs will receive funding. The amounts have not yet been fully calculated |
| Devon | £1,529,493 | All 31 received the full amount |
| Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West | £7,120,000 | All 51 received the full amount |
| Surrey | £1,282,000 | All 25 received the full amount |
| South East London | £2,413,000 | All 35 PCNs will receive money |
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse PCN.
