First primary care organisations in Cheshire & Merseyside to fully adopt the NHS Prevention Pledge

Central Liverpool Primary Care Network (PCN), Merepark Medical Centre (based in Alsager), and SWAGGA PCN (based in South Liverpool) have become the first primary care organisations in Cheshire and Merseyside to fully adopt the NHS Prevention Pledge. The three organisations have received an ‘Adoption Award’ at events run over July and August in recognition of their sustained commitment to embedding prevention, improving health equity and supporting the wider wellbeing of their communities.

Developed and delivered by Health Equalities Group (HEG) as a key strand within NHS Cheshire & Merseyside’s Population Health Programme, the NHS Prevention Pledge provides a structured framework to help NHS organisations make prevention part of everyday practice. The primary care model was introduced in 2024 and is now working with a growing cohort of PCNs and GP practices across the region.

The framework is built around six core commitments, many of which align to the prevention ambitions set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England. These include embedding prevention in governance and decision-making; addressing health inequalities through local partnership working and social prescribing; strengthening the role of primary care organisations as local anchor institutions; promoting Making Every Contact Count approaches; creating health-promoting primary care environments; and supporting staff health and wellbeing.

To achieve full adoption of the NHS Prevention Pledge, organisations must develop and evidence at least two actions under each of the six core commitments (12 in total). Actions need to be supported by appropriate measures of progress that are reported back to HEG, with current practices shared with other organisations within the cohort through quarterly community of practice meetings and an annual in-person ‘summit’ workshop.

Central Liverpool PCN, Merepark Medical Centre and SWAGGA PCN have each demonstrated sustained progress over the last two years. Their achievements illustrate how the Pledge can provide a practical catalyst for strengthening preventative activity, supporting neighbourhood working and making health equity a shared priority across primary care.

HEG will continue to work with these three organisations to sustain and build on their progress, while sharing their learning with other participating organisations within the cohort. The programme is expanding again over the summer of 2026–27, with six further PCNs joining the cohort, bringing the total number of organisations to 18.

Matthew Philpott, Executive Director of Health Equalities Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to recognise Central Liverpool PCN, Merepark Medical Centre and SWAGGA PCN as the first primary care organisations to fully adopt the NHS Prevention Pledge. It has been fantastic to see how they have embraced the NHS Prevention Pledge over the last two years and, just as importantly, their willingness to share this work with others. Their experiences and practical examples will help more primary care organisations strengthen prevention and tackle health inequalities in their own communities.”