PCNs spend around 2.5 sessions a week training ARRS staff

PCNs spend an average of two and a half sessions per week training their additional roles reimbursement (ARRS) staff, according to a Pulse PCN survey.

The results found that of the 140 PCN representatives who responded, 81 said they did this over one to two sessions, and a further 23 reporting that this was between three and four sessions per week.

A small number of PCNs reported more than five sessions per week (18). However, 18 PCNs also reported that they did not train staff over any sessions across a week.

The average across all PCNs who responded was 2.49 sessions per week.

One PCN said they trained staff one session per week, but that they get ‘considerably more input’ from their practices.

Another, who also ticked one to two sessions, said they have a supervising doctor for all ARRS staff and trainees.

Quite a few also responded that they ‘don’t know’ because it was difficult to quantify.

One said: ‘Very difficult to quantify as this is spread out over a number of different individuals over the four practices.’

It comes as a new review has been launched into the role of physician associate (PA), over a third of which are employed through PCNs.

This will look into training and supervision of the role, with the results expected in the Spring.

At a recent Pulse PCN event, Dr Clare Sieber, GP in West Sussex and CEO of The Well-Led Practice, suggested that the CQC has taken more of an interest in supervision lately.

It follows reports that one quarter of PCNs have a dedicated physical estate to provide face-to-face care to their patients, according to the Pulse PCN survey.

Last week it was also revealed that PCNs are struggling to recruit pharmacists and advanced nurse practitioners.

This survey was run in collaboration with our sister title Pulse and open between 19 September and 18 October 2024, collating responses using the SurveyMonkey tool. After removing duplicate entries from the same primary care network, a total of 140 PCN representatives from England provided answer to these questions, once don’t knows were removed. We used a midpoint analysis to calculate the average. The survey was advertised to our readers via our website and email newsletter, with a prize draw for a £200 John Lewis voucher as an incentive to complete the survey. The survey was unweighted, and we do not claim this to be scientific – only a snapshot of the PCN population.