Network Contract DES sub-contracting of clinical services

The regulatory provisions covering the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) relating to Primary Care Networks (PCNs) permit sub-contracting and potentially onward sub-contracting of clinical services under the Network Contract DES specification. For example, the PCN comprising the core-member practice(s) may choose to sub-contract provision of clinical services to a third-party provider such as a GP Federation.  Any such sub-contracting arrangement should be covered by an appropriate sub-contract and NHS England has provided a revised sub-contract template for the 2025/26 DES specification.