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Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 28th February 2020

Date sent: Friday 28 February 2020

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers          This and previous updates are available here

General Practices' Alert State: Somerset LMC’s assessment of General Practices’ Alert State for the period 21st February - Friday 28th February.
You can follow this link for a more detailed assessment and an explanation of the General Practice Alert State system. This information is for awareness and consideration when making decisions which may have an impact upon General Practice across Somerset.
The survey for this week is now open until Monday 2nd at 7pm.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update from GPC: The containment of COVID-19 remains of major concern and we are monitoring the situation and will continue to disseminate information as it becomes available. Our webpage is regularly updated with guidance and links to information from PHE and the DHSC. Our webpage includes a link to the PHE guidance for primary care which was updated a week ago, posters for practices and guidance by the RCGP (including practice action cards). The updated PHE guidance advises that the patient should be isolated and to call 111 directly, rather than there being an expectation that the GP does this. NHSE also distributed a briefing for primary care providers last week. Richard Vautrey also wrote to the NHSE about Covid-19 emergency planning, including the feasibility of an online booking suspension and procurement challenges such as the cost of supplies and equipment. We would encourage all practices to continue to follow current advice from PHE, and for anyone who suspects they might be at risk of having the virus, or has developed symptoms, to call NHS 111.

HR Infectious Diseases Policy: LMC legal adviser Porter Dodson is being asked about quarantine or self-isolation and particularly about pay relating to Covid-19. Adrian Poole is producing an Infectious Diseases Policy to deal with the HR eventualities with guidance which, if there is an outbreak requiring staff to stay at home, will help resolve pay questions. The cost will be £50 plus VAT. Practices should consider HR risks before any outbreak.

General Practitioners Committee Roadshow: Somerset LMC have secured Dr Mark Sanford Wood Deputy Chair of GPC England, to deliver a local Roadshow outlining the reformed GP contract. The event will take place at Woodlands Castle Taunton Tuesday 17th March, 7-9 light supper from 6.30. There will be opportunities to ask questions. The agenda will be circulated shortly. GPs, Practice Managers and Nurses are welcome to book online here. ​​​​More information about the GP Contract Agreement is available here. ​​​​​​

Immunisation Group Update From Paula Messenger LMC GPN: There was a reminder that looked after children over 5 are the responsibility of the schools immunisation team. There are about 900 home-schooled children in Somerset who are invited to local community clinics. Some practices are giving MenACWY, HPV and Revaxis to teenagers when the school team are paid to do this and also organise mop up clinics.
As part of the two year Measles Elimination Strategy Early Years/CHIS/HV are looking delivering names of the unvaccinated to Health Visitors allowing discussion at the 2-2.5 year checks. Midwives are being asked to check MMR status of all women. CHIS is refining their reports to share lists of “out of circulation” children with HVs.
Somerset has 38 children with birth dates between 2015-19 unregistered with a GP.
Some parents are booking vaccinations too early; letters call a week before due. PHE is developing on-line training to support receptionists booking child imm. appointments. Best practice would be for practices to have two staff manage immunisation bookings. This would allow more understanding of the schedules and ensure children don't come too early.
CHIS cannot give clinical advice to GP nurses or practices.
Nurses should use the incomplete vaccination schedule flow chart.
A new GP Engagement Officer based in Exeter has been appointed who will be visiting practices to support the programme across the South West.

Safeguarding Training Level 3: Somerset CCG are developing a training package that practices can use, we hope this will be circulated soon. Please also find a list of resources that GPs and health professionals can use for self directed learning or if you want to know more about Safeguarding Adults generally or a particular topic. We are still hopeful to deliver some local training via the Training hub over the coming year

IR35 Guidance for Locum GP's: GPC has updated employment status (IR35) guidance into one easy-to-read document so that locum GPs have all the information they need to be confident in determining their employment status. Read more in a blog ​​​​​​by Matt Mayer, deputy chair of the GP Sessional GP committee.

Information Sharing Agreements: From the DPO The CCG is co-ordinating sign up to a number of Information Sharing Agreements through the DocuSign e-sign portal. There are currently two agreements out for signature:

  1. SIDeR ISA and use cases (EPACCs, Basic Notes and Shared Care Record) - 59 practices signed to date.
  2. EMIS Viewer for CCG roles (Safeguarding, CHC Nurse Assessor, SEND roles) - 37 practices signed to date The LMC supports both these initiatives and practices are encouraged to sign if not already done so. If you would like to find out who in your practice is designated signatory or your practice's sign up status, please contact Kevin Caldwell via somccg.dpo@nhs.net Coming soon look out for:

For designated signatories, please find How Do I Sign guide and an example of the style of email you'll receive through the DocuSign system.

Moving IT Equipment: Practices are reminded that no hardware should be moved between sites without speaking to the CSU by "raising a ticket" through the Top Desk help icon. Even moving assets between rooms can be problematic:  tracking in the asset register will be affected if virus infected machines are not where they should be. There might also be insurance considerations. You have been warned. 

Consultant Connect Reminder: Colleagues will recall that we announced recently the extension of the range of advice and personnel available now that national consultants have been added to Consultant Connect services. This is having an effect on urgent referrals but some practices are using it, and so their patients benefiting from it more than others. As a reminder please see the attached Consultant Connect flyer and Dr Weaver Case Study with more information.

 

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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