Somerset LMC weekly Update Friday 4th May 2018
Date sent: Friday 4 May 2018
All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here
- General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR): Data Protection Officer (DPO)
- Health coaches and safeguarding training
- National Data Opt Out for patients
- Prescribing Guidance
- GPFV monies for Document flow
- SPH Update
- SPQS Guide (updated Version)
- Top Tip
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR): Data Protection Officer (DPO) - you will have heard that the EU GDPR comes in on 25th May, eventually to replace the old Data Protection Act but with the force of law at once. Under the GDPR practices are designated Public Bodies that control and process data and MUST have a named DPO from May 25th to advise the Data Controller (DC) about the regulations, ensure that data is held securely and to act as the point of contact between the Data Subjects (DS) [patients and staff on whom you hold any information] and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Practices must involve the DPO in all decisions about data processing, provide resources, training and support for them to do their job without constraint or conflict of interest with other roles. Despite this last point (and disputes amongst advisors about this untried law) the regulations say that anyone willing can be a DPO: a partner, practice manager or, say, an individual member of your PPG. DPOs can be shared and private companies, CCGs and LMCs in some areas are offering their services, for a price. DPOs will not be liable under the GDPR which, for the first time, brings in significant fines on DCs for data breaches: damages for consequent material loss to DSs and (crucially) for emotional harm. The ICO has promised to be realistic and does not expect all DPOs to be experts in international data handling law from the first day but DPOs will be expected to become familiar with it in time. The LMC cannot direct practices how to proceed but we are pleased that SPH, owned by Somerset practices, is looking to supply DPOs across the county for a modest sum which may reduce the more practices take up the offer.
More information on DPOs can be found (here - Paul Cundy’s blog 3)
We also heard at the South West Regional meeting of LMCs yesterday that the GPC will shortly be releasing GDPR packs for practices and LMCs these are currently with their Lawyers to ensure they comply fully and contain all the correct information and templates, may we remind practices that on the 25th May you only need to have a named DPO and privacy notices in place, the rest will be a work towards so again please do not panic.
Health coaches and safeguarding training we have heard of concerns expressed by the CCG team about how much safeguarding training health coaches may have undertaken or, as pertinently, recall having done. As well as being a good thing in itself the CQC will of course be interested in this. There is level one training easily available online and the CCG safeguarding team will be reminding practices again.
National Data Opt Out for patients is going live on 25th May (This is completely unrelated to GDPR but has the same launch date) Patients can choose to opt out of their confidential information being used for research and service provision planning purposes if they wish to. Patients will do this direct (not at the practice) and they will need to log onto a website to do so, information including a practice checklist can be found here This is being updated as more information is known, Practices will be sent posters and advertising material to display in waiting rooms or on websites, which are currently being finalised by NHS digital.
Practices just need to make sure your teams are aware of this national programme and how to sign post patients to it.
Prescribing Guidance The GPC policy group have updated the Prescribing guidance, to include a link to the template letters relating to the new requirements on hospitals to reduce inappropriate bureaucratic workload shift. There are also amendments to the prescribing numbers, independent prescriber and private prescriptions sections. This is also available on the LMC website
GPFV monies for Document flow Following on from the Optimising Document Workflow sessions delivered by EPI last year and practices receiving the extra funding to embed the training we now need some information from you on how the money has been spent and how many members of staff were trained as we have to report this to NHS England. Please could you complete this survey by Monday 14th May at the very latest, it should be reasonablyquick Survey link
SPH Update if practices have not yet completed the survey for the Digital Diabetes Prevention Programme would they please do so here, this will help support practices in the sign up and the work which needs to be completed. The lead for this work is tracey.pike@nhs.net
SPH are currently liaising with the CCG and Diabetes MY Way to help support practices in signing up patients and hope to provide more information shortly. The leads for this project are rachel.stark1@nhs.net and Tracey.Pike@nhs.net
SPQS Guide The SPQS guide released last week has had to have an update due to changes EMIS made this week, please find updated version here, please disregard the previous version. this can also be found on the LMC website
Top Tip EMIS has upgraded most practices this week to version 8.0.3 and this has caused practices with Template Manager to deactivate their protocols and concepts. If you have noticed that your protocols or concepts are not working check they are still active.
Have a great bank holiday weekend
Kind Regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
TEL: 01823 331428
Fax:01823 338561
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
