Pharmacists continue to be the most popular ARRS role hired by PCNs, according to the latest workforce figures.
There were 5,308 full time equivalent (FTE) pharmacists working in PCNs in April 2024, according to NHS England primary care workforce statistics. This is up from 5,163 in January 2024.
This was closely followed by care coordinators, 4,771 FTE of which were working in PCNs in April, compared to 4,626 in January, and 2,845 FTE social prescribing link workers, down from 2,866 in January (see box for full breakdown).
Overall, there are over 24,000 FTE ARRS roles working in PCNs in England.
The new contract added the role of enhanced nurse to the scheme from April, however this has not yet been included in the workforce statistics. The role was capped at one per PCN, or two for those with 100,000 patients.
It comes as the Conservative party have pledged to expand Pharmacy First to free up 20 million GP appointments if they win the general election on 4 July.
The party would also build 100 new GP surgeries and modernise a further 150, they have promised this week, backed by £1bn in funding a year by 2029/30. This would be funded by cutting the number of NHS managers and ‘halving spend on consultants’ in the public sector.
Earlier this year, a study called for issues with ARRS to be addressed if its full potential was to be realised, including funding, estates and oversight.
Breakdown of FTE ARRS roles employed in PCNs according to latest data
|
ARRS role |
No of staff |
|
Pharmacists |
5,308 |
|
Care Coordinators |
4,771 |
|
Social Prescribing Link Workers |
2,845 |
|
Pharmacy Technicians |
1,907 |
|
Physiotherapists |
1,576 |
|
Physician Associates |
1,164 |
|
Paramedics |
1,158 |
|
Health and Wellbeing Coaches |
1,075 |
|
General Practice Assistants |
1,070 |
|
Trainee Nursing Associates |
467 |
|
Nursing Associates |
457 |
|
Advanced Nurse Practitioners |
430 |
|
Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (Mental Health Practitioners) |
403 |
|
Advanced Pharmacist Practitioners |
391 |
|
Advanced Paramedic Practitioners |
227 |
|
Therapists (Non-Mental Health Practitioners) |
210 |
|
Digital and Transformation Leads |
189 |
|
Dieticians |
134 |
|
Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioners |
98 |
|
Social Prescribing Link Workers (Mental Health Practitioners) |
87 |
|
Healthcare Assistants |
74 |
|
Podiatrists |
48 |
|
Community Mental Health Nurses (Mental Health Practitioners) |
45 |
|
Health Support Workers |
45 |
|
Therapists (Mental Health Practitioners) |
14 |
|
Advanced Occupational Therapist Practitioners (Non-Mental Health Practitioners)] |
11 |
|
Advanced Dietician Practitioners |
6 |
|
Advanced Podiatrist Practitioners |
3 |
|
Applied Psychologists – Clinical (Mental Health Practitioners) |
2 |
|
Social Workers (Mental Health Practitioners) |
1 |
|
Trainee Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (Mental Health Practitioners) |
1 |
|
Trainee Clinical Associates in Psychology (Mental Health Practitioners) |
- |
|
Advanced Occupational Therapist Practitioners (Mental Health Practitioners) |
- |
|
Clinical Associates in Psychology (Mental Health Practitioners) |
- |
|
Peer Support Workers (Mental Health Practitioners) |
- |
*While all the above roles from the primary care network workforce statistics are reimbursable under ARRS, NHS England has not confirmed whether the FTE numbers have been claimed for under the scheme.