Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 3rd May 2024
Date sent: Friday 3 May 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! New this week... Measles
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Clinical News/Updates
- Access to Documents Held in the GP System
- Adult ADHD Referral Process
- Epimax Ocular Irritation - from Mr Indy Sian Consultant Ophthalmologist MPH
- Keeping up to date with Somerset’s SEND Local Offer
- Ordercomms - Date of Change to ICE for Pathology
- Vitamin D Service Has Resumed - Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- Bristol Medical School Medical Student Placements - Training/Events
- Green Impact for Health Conference July 3rd 2024 - Hosted by Frome Medical Practice in conjunction with Royal College of General Practitioners Severn Faculty - Resources
- Sign Up for Allied Health Professionals Regional Updates - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts - this week... Taking a Breath
Clinical News/Updates
Access to Documents Held in the GP System: SIDeR+ launched on Monday 29th April and includes access to documents held in the GP system. We will be phasing out access to EMIS Viewer over the next 6 months and SIDeR+ will be the only method of accessing GP information. Please see the Use Case for your information that has been added to the Level 2 Information Sharing Agreement.
Adult ADHD Referral Process: The LMC are aware of the recent difficulties of referring into this service and are in discussions with the team to create a workable solution for all. Any new pathway will be piloted before being implemented. For now, our agreement from March 2023 remains that referrals can be made via a referral letter. Information including the impact, duration, context, pervasiveness and whether the behaviours have been present since childhood are required to enable the referral to be triaged. The team will then send a patient questionnaire to the patient which the patient must return in a timely manner directly to the ADHD team for them to triage the referral. Failure of the patient to complete the form will result in the referral being closed.
Adult ADHD team would like your views in creating a new simplified referral form. If you are interested in emailing your opinions or being part of task and finish group on this, please contact rosie.grenter@somersetft.nhs.uk.
Epimax Ocular Irritation - from Mr Indy Sian Consultant Ophthalmologist MPH: Over the last few months we have become aware that an increasing number of patients with skin disorders were presenting to eye casualty with unexplained ocular surface toxicity, consistent with a mild ocular chemical injury. Further questioning identified symptoms were related to recent use of Epimax ointment/ cream use on the face. Each individual required ocular surface chemical injury treatment. I have reported this to the Yellow card scheme. Dermatology patients should be strongly advised to avoid periocular application of Epimax, and primary care physicians, ophthalmologists and dermatologists made aware of this potential complication.
Ordercomms - Date of Change to ICE for Pathology: Further to the announcement that Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will be moving their Ordercomms system to Clinisys ICE for both Pathology and Radiology, they are pleased to let you know that the first phase of this switch is taking place on Sunday 7th July 2024. Further information, training and support will be provided to practices over the coming weeks and months.
This first phase will be for Pathology only. Please visit the Ordercomms TeamNet page for full details.
Vitamin D Service Has Resumed: The lab have now received their back order of Vitamin D reagent, and so have removed the block on its analysis, and normal service has resumed.
Please note that they will not be able to assay all of the Vitamin D samples that were received during the time the service was unavailable, so GPs should still contact the lab via the following email: Duty.Biochemist@SomersetFT.nhs.uk if the Vitamin D is considered clinically urgent.
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
Bristol Medical School Medical Student Placements: Join our dynamic teaching team for September 2024 - recruitment now open. You will find all the information you need in our teaching brochure including options for teaching in the different years, links to sign your practice up for teaching as well as information about our Teaching Packages and enhanced payment for teaching.
The amount of supervision and space needed for placements varies but may not be as high as you think. Some placements are one day a week and only need a session of clinical space. Students attend placements in term time only when manpower is less stretched. Our placements are longer than many other medical schools, we find this has improved the experience for the team, students and patients. Students are able to contribute more to the team and learn more with minimal disruption to the practice.
I am keen to support old and new practices to host Bristol students and individual GPs that are enthusiastic about teaching to teach. If you are interested to know more please contact me imogen.llewellyn@bristol.ac.uk (Somerset GP Lead Bristol Medical School.)
Training/Events
Green Impact for Health Conference July 3rd 2024 - Hosted by Frome Medical Practice in conjunction with Royal College of General Practitioners Severn Faculty: Following on from our successful Green Impact 2019 event with the RCGP, we would like to invite you to join us at Frome Medical Practice for a day on 3rd July 2024, dedicated to exploring and building a sustainable well-being economy and fostering a greener, healthier community. This event invites colleagues to come together to share insights, learnings, and strategies for accelerating progress by collaborating across institutions. Tickets go live Monday 29th April. Book here. RCGP members promo code: greenhealth
Resources
Sign Up For Allied Health Professionals Regional Updates: The Regional NHSE AHP team send out a weekly update with information and resources for the allied health professions. There are often relevant primary care AHP colleague development opportunities and professional updates included. Please find this week's update here and here. To be added to the distribution list please see the contact details in the update.
Kind regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
Crown Medical Centre, Venture Way, Taunton, TA2 8QY
Tel: (01823) 331 428
Fax: (01823) 338 561
www.somersetlmc.co.uk
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
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