ARRS, PCN DES & NHS services
Aligned to How the NHSActually Commissions Care
NCS works within the frameworks primary care already uses — the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, the Network Contract DES, enhanced services and ICB commissioning — so support lands where your funding and priorities already sit.
ARRS clinical pharmacy workforce
Where your PCN is eligible, NCS can support ARRS-funded clinical pharmacy roles — clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who integrate with your existing team, with clear supervision and governance arrangements.
PCN DES clinical service priorities
Delivery aligned to the Network Contract DES — supporting the clinical service priorities your network is working towards, with activity reporting that evidences delivery.
Structured Medication Reviews
Pharmacist-led SMRs for patients with complex polypharmacy, frailty and high-risk prescribing — a core PCN DES service and one of our most-requested commissions.
Enhanced Health in Care Homes
Clinical pharmacy support for care home residents, aligned to the Enhanced Health in Care Homes framework — medication reviews, medicines optimisation and multidisciplinary working.
Medicines optimisation & prescribing quality
Prescribing audits, formulary adherence, safety programmes (including opioid and gabapentinoid reviews) and targeted prescribing improvement projects.
GP practice clinical capacity
Additional pharmacist and technician capacity for individual practices — from sessional cover to long-term placements that release GP time.
ICB-commissioned clinical projects
Defined clinical projects commissioned at ICB level — scoped, delivered and reported with the governance commissioners expect.
How the Funding Fits Together
- ARRS-funded roles — workforce reimbursed through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, where your PCN is eligible and within scheme rules.
- PCN DES requirements — service obligations under the Network Contract DES (such as SMRs and care homes) that our delivery can support.
- Separately commissioned services — clinical projects commissioned directly by PCNs, practices, federations or ICBs outside ARRS.
NCS does not guarantee ARRS reimbursement, and not every service qualifies for ARRS funding. Eligibility always sits with NHS England rules and your ICB — we will help you structure support appropriately.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions for Healthcare Decision Makers
You can commission Structured Medication Reviews, polypharmacy and deprescribing programmes, opioid reduction programmes, gabapentinoid prescribing reviews, high-risk medication reviews, valproate and medicines safety work, care home medication reviews, medicines reconciliation, prescribing audits, long-term condition medicines management, and bespoke PCN or ICB projects. Several services can be combined within one enquiry.