The NHS Confederation is launching a new network for the primary care sector, empowering primary care leaders to maximise the impact they have on patient care and shape the future.

The new national network officially will start in April and will focus on ensuring primary care, as the keystone of the NHS, is valued, supported, well-resourced and empowered to improve the health of local communities. It will bring together primary care leaders to shape the future of primary care within integrated care systems.

This means that the NHS Confederation’s two current primary care networks – the PCN Network and Primary Care Federation Network – will unite, resulting in a new stronger voice for primary care.

Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, said: "I am full of admiration for the vital role primary care plays in the health and care system and the extraordinary lengths it has gone to during the pandemic to protect our communities. As the NHS focuses on a sustainable recovery and there’s renewed impetus to integrate health and care services, this new stronger network will provide the support, voice and recognition for teams across the sector to continue to deliver high quality care, increase capacity and be at the forefront of transformation with system partners."