Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 18th January 2019
Date sent: Friday 18 January 2019
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- "From Serendip With Pity" the latest blog from LMC Chairman Dr Nick Bray
- Creating Vibrant New Working Arrangements – Transformation Implementation Plan
- GP Partnership Model Review
- Digitisation of medical records - a Sars Solution?
- Data Protection Officer
- Falsified Medicines Directive guidance
- NHS Long Term Plan
- 2WW Mandatory Tests
- Leadership Day 6th February
- Education Intelligence & Electronic Information Organisation (EIEIO)
Creating Vibrant New Working Arrangements – Transformation Implementation Plan: This Transformation Implementation Plan (TIP) encourages practices to work on the GP Forward View High Impact Action (HIA) of “creating vibrant new working arrangements”, using 2018-19 Transformation funding. SPH together with the Somerset GP board have put together this first plan together to enable practices to backfill time for members to engage in the local areas meetings and work on Neighbourhood Teams and Primary Care Home, there is also a payment for completing the ten high impact actions survey by noon on the 28th February. Please ensure that the signed agreements are returned to sphadmin@nhs.net Information on further transformation monies available will be circulated by the end of January.
GP Partnership Model Review: The final report published on Tuesday is a culmination of several months of work by Dr Nigel Watson (Chief Executive Wessex LMC) who led the review and this final report makes recommendations to the Government which will address many of the challenges faced and revitalise the valuable partnership model.
Digitisation of medical records - a Sars Solution?: No LMC weekly update would be complete without a reference to Subject Access Requests under GDPR which has turned practices into unpaid printing, photocopying and postal services for unscrupulous lawyers exploiting BMA guidance on this untested law. One scheme being brought in by SPH in conjunction with the SGPB is to provide a digitisation service for written records from Transformation monies, more news on that from SPH soon. It seems to us that, as SARS require the entire record practices hold to be made available, making the old Lloyd George records digital would, amongst other advantages, save on photocopying.
Data Protection Officer: (Note from SPH) SPH is providing the role of DPO for those practices who have subscribed [LMC note - all practices MUST have a designated DPO]. Debbie Hale is the named DPO and she is supported by Romy Stanton. If you have questions about the GDPR these can be sent to sphadmin@nhs.net or 07545 071775. We will send an acknowledge on receipt of your query and we aim to get back to you within 10 working days. Attached is the data mapping tool which the CSU circulated in 2018. Please also contact if you have any concerns about the service provided as we really value direct feedback to help us improve. Whilst our workforce is still limited at the moment we have still been able to answer in a timely manner.
Falsified Medicines Directive guidance:The Falsified Medicines Directive will become effective on 9 February 2019. The Directive introduces tougher rules to ensure medicines are safe and that the trade in medicines is rigorously controlled. This will have an impact on all practices and therefore, they should be preparing for implementation in order to demonstrate compliance with the Directive. Please go to the BMA website for guidance and read Krishna Kasaraneni’s, GPC England Executive Team, blog on Brexit and the Falsified Medicines Directive here . Otherwise is it argued by GPC members that IT solutions are far from clear yet and one even advised “practices not to blink” until we have guidance from CCGs & NHSE.
NHS Long Term Plan: NHSE has launched its long-term plan for the NHS which lays out ambitious aims for the health service linked to an expansion in digital services and a focus on preventive care. The previously announced £3.5bn for primary medical care and community services has been increased to £4.5bn. There is also an important and clear commitment to increase the proportion of NHS investment spent on primary medical and community services. This is described as an “NHS-first” and is a direct result of our campaigning in recent years. There will be a focus on the development of primary care networks with a network contract built on the current GMS contract. Once contract negotiations are completed more details will follow The intention is that practices should be able to lead and direct networks, which will enable an expansion of the workforce to include pharmacists, physiotherapists, social prescribers, paramedics and physician assistants, and to help rebuild and reconnect the primary healthcare team within an area. The plan highlights a range of digital goals related to general practice, including a commitment to enable all practices to do video consultations, to offer more online booking and online repeat prescribing ordering. Whilst patients will continue to be able to choose to be registered with digital-first providers, the plan outlines that steps will be taken to address the financial issues related to this as well as committing to review the out of area registration arrangement. We welcome the recommitment to a state backed indemnity scheme, to begin in April 2019, and the commitment to implement the premises review. There is also a clear commitment to move away from the NHS Act's competition agenda, something again for which the BMA has been campaigning.
2WW Mandatory Tests: Our thanks to Karina Betts for sharing this spreadsheet on Mandatory tests required for 2WW which practices are free to use should they choose to.
Leadership Day 6th February: There are still places available to book on this event to be held at Taunton Racecourse on the 6th Feb it is open to GPs and Practice managers in Somerset.
And finally...
Education Intelligence & Electronic Information Organisation (EIEIO): Practices will be pleased to hear that O McDonald has been appointed this exciting new agency by Health Education England.
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
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