Response Primary Care delivers fully managed FCP services — maximising operational capacity, actively managing governance and reducing clinical risk at every step.
THE PCN CHALLENGE
PCN Managers are pulled in many directions at once. NHS England targets, ICB reporting, ARRS accountability, practice relationships, governance sign-off — and somewhere in the middle of all of that, an FCP service that needs to be managed too. Most PCNs didn’t sign up to run a clinical staffing operation. That’s where we come in.
Not every practice in your PCN gets the same FCP experience. Some are well-utilised, some are underserved, and most PCN Managers only find out there’s a problem when a practice raises it. We make sure the service works consistently across every site — same standard, same accountability, no gaps.
Around 30% of GP appointments are MSK-related. Most of those patients don’t need a GP — they need an FCP. Without one, that demand lands on your GP’s, referrals build up, and waiting times creep. Our FCPs assess, diagnose and discharge within primary care. The patients who need a GP get one. The ones who don’t, don’t.
CQC, DES, ARRS, HR — the paperwork and governance around an FCP service is substantial. And if something goes wrong, it’s your PCN that’s exposed. We carry all of it. Frameworks, audits, supervision, complaints — handled. You get visibility, we carry the burden.
Our delivery
Review of the needs of your ARRS FCP — tailored to your PCN’s population and pressures.
FCP efficiency scorecard — clear, data-led visibility on performance and utilisation.
Active management of HR — recruitment, onboarding, supervision and staff support.
All you need for CQC governance — frameworks, audits, documentation and reporting.
Proven Performance
of GP MSK appointments freed, giving clinicians more time for complex patients
of appointments freed per year whilst improving clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction
partnership-led implementation — working through every challenge alongside your PCN leadership
Real-World Results
Proven in practice. Trusted by PCNs.
A PCN covering both rural and town populations — with varying levels of deprivation — required every patient to be assessed for orthopaedic, rheumatological and red flag conditions before treatment could begin.
Response Primary Care delivered this service end-to-end and worked in close partnership during implementation. Every challenge that arose was worked through and overcome together, ensuring continuity of care from day one.
A PCN with a high proportion of long-term chronic patients and individuals who find engaging with healthcare professionals difficult needed a dependable FCP service.
Response Primary Care invested time understanding the network at every level — from reception staff to clinical leads to directors. The result: a service built around the PCN’s real needs, with measurable reductions in GP MSK workload.
Key Benefits
70–80% of GP appointments previously consumed by MSK issues are freed. Thousands of appointments returned to GPs each year, alongside improved clinical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction scores across the network.
Continual service review prevents under-booking. Clear written pathway protocols and education for reception and clinical staff. Regular ARRS compliance reviews with full documentation of service delivery, aligned to role specifications at all times.
A fully managed service with quarterly reviews, structured audit schedules and transparent outcome reporting. Data-led insights allow us to examine long-term condition (LTC) trends and inform ongoing service improvement across your network.
Our Approach
From lead clinicians to directors, Response Primary Care believes that the best outcomes come from true collaboration. We don’t just deliver a service — we embed ourselves in your PCN, understand your pressures, and work alongside you to build something that lasts. Lumps and bumps will always arise. We work through them together.
Get In Touch
Whether you’re setting up a new FCP service or reviewing an existing one, Response Primary Care is here to help. Let’s discuss your PCN’s challenges and how we can solve them.
