December 2, 2025
How is a primary care network represented at the GPCB?
The GP Collaborative Board (GPCB) is the decision-making body in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) for general practices to come together as a single entity, working with other providers as an equal partner in an Integrated Care System (ICS). The Board is made up of voting representatives from each of the PCNs in BNSSG and BrisDoc, as well as non-voting representatives from the localities, One Care and Avon LMC. The GPCB is led by the Chair and Medical Director.
4PCN is a primary care network (PCN) in South Gloucestershire made up of four general practices covering over 54,000 patients.
Dr Becky Pegden, GP Partner at Kingswood Health Centre, represents 4PCN as part of the GPCB. Managing Partner Robyn Clark acts as deputy, joining meetings and voting on the PCN’s behalf in Becky’s absence. This ensures the PCN is consistently represented at the GPCB – giving it a strong voice – and enhances engagement between the GPCB and the practices in the PCN. Having clinical and managerial representation also mean 4PCN brings a wide range of experience, expertise and perspectives to GPCB work.
The PCN representatives facilitate the two-way communication between practices and the GPCB. Ahead of GPCB meetings Becky and Robyn gather the views of their practices on agenda items by emailing out to practice leads and subject matter experts. Often the items for discussion affect practices or require discussion so sharing them in advance is essential. The 4PCN representatives then feed these views into discussion and decision making at GPCB meetings. Following the meetings, Becky and Robyn share key outcomes with their practices by email and at 4PCN’s monthly PCN Board meeting and gather further feedback and responses.
These processes enable the “golden thread” of communication and engagement, and amplify the voices of practices at GPCB level, allowing them to feed into system discussions and decision-making.
Becky and Robyn also support the practices they represent gain a better understanding of the GPCB and its plans by discussing within their PCN the wider strategic aims and goals of the GPCB. This helps practices to know more about the opportunities and benefits for their PCN of taking part in GPCB and system work. Equally it also means Becky and Robyn have a strong relationship with practices and a good understanding of their views which they can represent at the GPCB.
Additionally, Becky and Robyn take part in GPCB workstreams, programmes and representation. Over the past two years, they have been part of the following groups and workstreams on behalf of the GPCB:
- ICB LES steering group
- GPCB governance project
- General practice operational pressure escalation levels (OPEL) working group
- System discussions about care homes and P3 beds
- Strategic Development Fund (SDF) task and finish group
This means they both have a solid understanding of how general practice is positioning itself within the wider health and care system in BNSSG, and means they are developing their own general practice leadership within the GPCB.
For more information please contact gpcollaborativeboard@onecare.org.uk
How is a primary care network represented at the GPCB?
