Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 29th May 2020
Date sent: Friday 29 May 2020
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
SGPET Covid weekly update with all online education can be found here
- General Practices' Alert State
- The Cameron Fund Spring/Summer Newsletter
- Somerset Pastoral Care Cell - Emotional Wellbeing and survey
- Somerset LeDeR Newsletter 5th Edition (May 2020)
- Remote consultations for learning disability health checks
- New coronavirus life assurance scheme
- Changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
- Nursing Associates
- LMC Buying Group
- The Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcast is Now Live!
General Practices' Alert State: Somerset LMC’s assessment of General Practices’ Alert State for the period 22nd May - Friday 29th May.
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 1st at 7pm.
Remote consultations for learning disability health checks: Providing support to people with LDs is an important part of general practice which includes offering the opportunity for an annual health check. NHSEI has confirmed to GPC that where this cannot be delivered safely face to face, including when the patient has conditions which require them to shield, the review can be conducted remotely. Decisions about the best way to do this should be made on an individual basis, taking in to account the challenges some patients might have.
New coronavirus life assurance scheme: On 27 April a new life assurance scheme was introduced covering health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details of the scheme have now been published by NHS Business Service Authority - including guidance for claimants and employers can be found here . This is in addition to Death in Service (DiS) benefits linked to NHS pension schemes. We are aware of outstanding confirmation of DiS benefits for locum GPs and GPC continues to lobby for it .
Changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001: The Government has amended the MDR 2001 giving Ministers emergency powers over the supply of CDs in specified circumstances during a pandemic. It will give Ministers the option to “switch on” flexibilities during a pandemic to: allow registered pharmacies to supply substances in Schedule 2, 3 & Part 1 S4 of the MDR without a prescription, where the patient has been receiving them as part of treatment; allow supply of those substances under a Serious Shortage Protocol to allow treatment with alternative products where prescribed items are unavailable; and allow pharmacists to change the frequency of instalment prescriptions without the immediate need for a new prescription but in agreement with the prescriber.
The proposed measures are enabling and will only be used in extreme circumstances of supply or staffing problems SO DON’T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT YET! Guidance will be published soon and we will be notified when and if the new measures are enacted. If they are they will be “zoned” rather than applying to all England.
Nursing Associates: Following last week's item we are pleased there has been a lot of interest in the TNA apprenticeship programme and NA role. The Training Hub is updating its guide for practices due to recent changes in funding and standards and it will be available soon.The role of the Nursing Associate in General Practice can be found here . As the role of the NA in General Practice is new this Youtube link may be of interest and this Nursing times article . The April 2020 TNA training programme has been delayed due to Covid 19 but it is hoped it will resume in the autumn.
Individual enquiries can be made by email to carol.hobbs4@nhs.net
LMC Buying Group: The LMC buying group have been working with their regular suppliers to ensure they can support practices during this difficult time. We would like to draw your attention to Whittaker’s who have posters and stands to remind employees and visitors of social distancing, there is also a link to AKM Music which is licence free for your practice and midmeds who have supplies of consumables such as Pulse Oximeters and FFP3 masks. Please take a look on the link . All Somerset practices are members of this national LMCs buying group.
The Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcast is Now Live!: The podcast is a new, free fortnightly show hosted by Dr. Andrew Tresidder. Each episode features a different topic related to mental and emotional wellbeing and Dr. Tresidder will be joined by a guest co-host for each conversation. The show is aimed at the people of Somerset and beyond; the advice and guidance provided should apply to anybody who needs it, whenever they need it.
Please find the Somerset Emotional Wellbeing podcast at the link , or on Spotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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