NHS England and NHS Improvement have published an updated Network Contract DES Specification and Network Contract DES Guidance. The changes cover areas such as the introduction of the Investment and Impact Fund, the introduction of nursing associate and trainee nursing associate roles to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, and flexibility – by exception – for the clinical lead role for care homes to be a non-GP. The full summary of changes is set out in the covering letter.

PCNs who wish to continue to provide the DES and have no changes to any of their sign up information (as set out in section 4.3.2 of the DES) do not need to take any action, as they will be auto-enrolled into the new DES. If a practice does not accept the revised terms and wishes to opt-out, they must notify the commissioner by 17 October 2020. This information is set out in the covering letter.

In addition, guidance has been published for the Investment and Impact Fund and for Structured Medication Reviews (SMR)