Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 22nd February 2019
Date sent: Friday 22 February 2019
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Brief notes from the Somerset GP Board meeting
- Electronic transfers of childhood vaccination data - potential GDPR breach
- Hospital FP10s
- NHS Prescription Charges
- Fit for My Future Staff Briefing
- GPC Contract Roadshow - 13th March from 6:30pm at Holiday Inn Taunton - last few spaces - Book here
Electronic transfers of childhood vaccination data - potential GDPR breach: The GPC reports that LMCs in the South West, London and West Midlands are concerned about changes to the process for electronic transfer of childhood vaccination and immunisations data from GP systems to Child Health Information Services. This is a good idea in principle but, after taking legal advice, GPC England remains concerned that practices using the proposed new CHIS extraction may be placing themselves in breach of GDPR/DPA 2018. It is seeking urgent clarification from NHSE (and one would hope the ICO). In the meantime the GPC reinforces Somerset LMC’s advice that practices do not sign up to this new system until concerns have been addressed. If you are aware of practices being contacted directly and who may have since signed up, please let us know by telling the LMC or emailing info.gpc@bma.org.uk . Please also see the BMA’s guidance on GDPR.
Hospital FP10s: We have had reports of community pharmacists refusing to dispense FP10s originating from the acute trusts and sending patients to practices for re-issuing of the prescription. That this is entirely incorrect has now been confirmed by the pharmacists concerned and by the Local Pharmaceutical Committee which will be communicating with its members soon. For the avoidance of doubt the stamping of some hospital FP10s with the legend “the trust will only issue 7 days supply” has no bearing on pharmacists’ ability to fill the prescription in full.
NHS Prescription Charges: GPs are, of course, famously disinterested in money but we thought you might be interested to hear about this. Whereas, entirely predictably, prescription charges are rising from £8.80 to £9 per item on 1st April, the cost of prepayment certificates will remain unchanged at £29.10 and £104 for three and 12 months respectively. For politicians prescription charges are famously either “a tax on the sick” or “a valuable contribution to NHS funding” depending on whether you are in opposition or in government.
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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