Impact of ARRS on access explored in new Pulse PCN roundtable

Pulse PCN has launched its latest roundtable on how the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) has impacted access within primary care.

The Pulse PCN roundtable brought together clinical directors who use the scheme across their PCNs to discuss how ARRS has impacted access and what the future holds for accessing primary care.

Patient access to primary care remains one of the most significant political topics. A Health Foundation poll in May 2025 found that it was the public’s number one NHS priority.

In 2019, the additional roles reimbursement scheme was introduced as part of the PCN contract, giving primary care the ability to hire more staff. This influx of around 38,000 employees was hoped to ease the pressures on access and increase the number of appointments available for patients.

However, the scheme remains controversial, with physician associates facing criticism over their expanded role, while others believe the funding should be placed back into core practice funding.

Deputy editor of Pulse PCN, Beth Gault, said: ‘This was a great roundtable discussion getting to the heart of one of the biggest issues in primary care right now.

‘Our Pulse PCN roundtable discussed the real challenge that access is and how the impact of ARRS has differed across the country. It also highlighted the challenge of operating amid the uncertainty of the upcoming neighbourhood contracts and where PCNs might sit in the future.’ 

Pulse PCN’s roundtable series is part of our comprehensive offering for our community of PCN clinical directors and their teams. Recent roundtable topics have included digital transformation, ARRS GPs, and PCN pharmacists, with discussions all led by clinical directors from across England.

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