Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 13th December 2019
Date sent: Friday 13 December 2019
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- 'Electoral Dysfunction' the latest blog from LMC Chairman Dr Nick Bray
- Are you interested in making a real, positive difference to General Practice in Somerset?
- Child school immunisation for flu
- Telephone Advice & Guidance
- Safeguarding Training - Another view from Dr Ian Kelham
- Possible Scam
- A Xmas Message from MEDDOC
- Top Tip
Are you interested in making a real, positive difference to General Practice in Somerset?: Somerset LMC is looking for a Deputy Medical Director for one session a week. This is an interesting role for a GP working in Somerset in any capacity. Working alongside the Medical Director, you will in time, be able to advise and support GPs and practices in a range of circumstances: contractual, regulatory, personal and pastoral. Pay is competitive and there is a 14% additional contribution to a private pension fund. There is a job description and person specification on the website but please contact b.moyse@nhs.net for more information in the first instance. Applications by email with CV please to be received by noon on Monday 20th January.
Child school immunisation for flu: We have had a number of queries from practices on the process of child flu when missed at school. If a child misses the session at school they will get a letter from the school imms service giving them a number to phone and find out about the next mop up clinic in their area.
Parents should use the contact details below for Somerset SAINT (School Aged Immunisation Nursing Team) for the school imms team if they want to find out about mop up clinics.
Suzanne Card Immunisation Team Co-ordinator
Tel: 03003230032
* Email Suzanne.card@sompar.nhs.uk
Please find the “School Imms Pathway” from Public Health England.
Telephone Advice & Guidance: After discussions with the LMC Consultant Connect is now supported by its National Consultant Network (NCN). This is designed to help during winter pressures with a wider range of specialties from those offered by local Trusts and also a “backstop” for calls to existing available specialties that are not picked up locally. These are Cardiology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, E.N.T, Elderly Care, Gastroenterology, Gynaecology, Haematology, Mental Health ( Medication Advice), Neurology, Paediatrics, Renal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Rheumatology and Urology. If local consultants are unable to answer a call, it will automatically pass to an experienced national consultant who can provide clinical advice (but obviously not local signposting). GPs will be notified when a call diverts to the NCN. In other areas the NCN has improved first time connection rates and has been well received by GPs. Consultant Connect is also available on an App.
Safeguarding Training - Another view from Dr Ian Kelham: who is responsible for giving clinical sign off for doctors who apply to get onto the performers list in the South West. “I am delighted the number arriving is now much greater than those leaving but getting onto the NHSE performers list is a very long winded ordeal. This comes from national guidance so we cannot do other than follow that guidance. One issue is the insistence that doctors applying for the England list need up to date level three training in both child and adult safeguarding. For doctors who apply straight from VTS level three is classed as included in their training but doctors moving here from Scotland or Wales are often not up to date. We can get over this to some extent by asking for a voluntary undertaking that level three training can be carried out within the first three-six months of work in this area. This is another reason for doctors, if they get a chance, to keep up their training especially if they have any thought of moving to a different country within the UK.”
Possible Scam: We have been made aware by a practice in the Mendip area that several elderly patients have received a letter stating that they owe monies to the NHS and this can be paid at their practice reception, it is an odd “scam” as in the initial letter there are no further contact details, we suspect the letters may be followed up stating further funds are owed with a phone number or payments details included, the letter has been reported to the Fraud specialists.
A Xmas Message from MEDDOC: The medical director of Devon Doctors has sent us a seasonal greeting as attached. Essentially he is asking that colleagues make sure that Treatment Escalation Plans and just in case medicines are sorted out before the prolonged Xmas break (reminder: Xmas is on the 25th this year) and that because of limited pharmacy opening hours extra stocks may be required.
Top Tip...
PCIS A guide for Severe Mental Illness (SMI):
- Use your Mental health Register in QOF
- Exclude all patients solely seen in secondary care
- You will be left with your cohort of patients
- You now need to complete the six elements of a physical health check for up to 50% of the cohort
- You can use the Mental Health Ardens template to record the six elements.
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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