Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 11th December 2020
Date sent: Friday 11 December 2020
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Covid Vaccination Programme
- Post Covid Assessment Service from the CCG
- Covid Vaccine Programme
- BMA Law free webinar on Partnership agreements 15.12 at 1PM
- Healthy Teen Relationship Campaign
- Nominations wanted from Somerset for the first ever NHSEI South West Celebration of Practice Nursing Awards
- GP Safehouse
- And Finally
Covid Vaccination Programme: This inevitably continues to cause frustration and even anger among colleagues which is a matter of deep regret at a time when we should be united and not divided. The LMC thinks that it is import that we tell you the following.
- The enhanced service is a practice specific contract and the LMC cannot tell practices to sign or not to sign but to advise. In a RAG rating system the national imperatives would have made this flawed document “amber” and we are sorry that, given the rapidly changing situation, this was not clear enough in last week’s update.
- The LMC recognises the essential role that General Practice must play in any successful mass vaccination campaign and the commitment of practices to do the best for the people of Somerset.
- The LMC recognises the CCG’s promise to ensure that no practice will lose out financially by signing the ES and that the countywide system will do what it can to provide help with logistics and staffing. In Somerset we enjoy a good relationship with our CCG and Trusts and the LMC is grateful for this.
- The LMC recognises the flaws in the ES and will support colleagues who feel it is a matter of conscience not to agree to sign a legal document the terms of which they cannot satisfy individually and which can be changed unilaterally with immediate effect. That it makes PCN practices jointly responsible for individual failures, the lack of a PGD so far, concerns about the inequity of access under the present site-based system and the matter of informed consent are all still works in progress. The LMC agrees that this is a disgrace.
- The LMC will fully support all practices irrespective on their decision about the ES because we all want to do everything possible to make the vaccination campaign a success. Not agreeing to the ES does not exclude practices or individuals from taking part in the campaign and we understand that there will be ways of joining up in future as things change if the other participants and commissioner agree. This is a marathon, not a sprint despite the insane pressure exerted on and by NHSEI. The much heralded AZ Oxford vaccine will be far more suitable for primary care and community use and the JCVI top priority of care home residents.
In the meantime we continue provide what updates we can through this update, on our website and in person. This week we share a helpful summary Newsletter provided by the lead for the CVP in Hampshire, Dr Nigel Watson of Wessex LMCs (which was written on Monday) and a summary of the PCN collaborative agreement from NHSEI. The GPC has taken legal advice from a QC on the collaborative agreement and shared it with NHSEI who say amendments will be made. However NHSEI also say that this is only a template, was meant to be helpful and reduce the need for everyone to develop their own. If local areas want to make changes they can do so and we understand that Kevin Caldwell the DPO at the CCG has developed an information sharing agreement to complete Annex 1 as part of the Collaboration Agreement for PCNs.
For now, whatever decisions may have been made, we know that practices will cooperate with the collating of patient lists but would also encourage individuals to look at the online training to be ready for the future.
Updates on the website also include:
- Photo of the Pfizer draw up measure 0.3ml due to the double bung
- How to Book on EMIS
- Standard Operating Procedure Management of COVID-19
Post Covid Assessment Service from the CCG: All health economies are required to have a post covid assessment service in place by 1st December 2020. In Somerset we have established a clinical pathway and referral process for primary care. The service is evolving as we learn more about Covid-19 and its effects on patients. We therefore value any feedback on how we can refine the model for Somerset.
The pathway can be found here. Most initial post covid-19 patients will be managed in primary care to exclude other serious medical conditions. The national resource should be used to signpost patients for support and advice. Please ensure any referrals to the Somerset post covid assessment service are done using this form and are sent to somccg.longcovid@nhs.net together with any supporting documents. The patient will be offered an assessment in our integrated clinic (local GP and mental health professional) and recommendations given. Complex cases requiring the input of therapists will be discussed at an MDT.
The referral form is currently a word document. We anticipate it being adapted for EMIS once we are sure it is working well. If there are any questions please contact Rachael Rowe, Head of Long Term Conditions via Rachael.rowe@nhs.net
Covid Vaccine Programme: SFT are currently looking for GP and prescribers who are able to offer any time and support to this programme. If you would like to take part please complete this Expression of interest form and e mail to Jordan.pollard@somersetft.nhs.uk
BMA Law free webinar on Partnership agreements 15.12 at 1PM: This 45-minute webinar from BMA Law’s specialist solicitors Sana Sadiq and Sarah Carr will take you through every aspect of Partnership Agreements. Topics include why you need a partnership agreement, how often you should update it, and the common pitfalls to avoid. There will also be 15 minutes at the end to address any question you may have. Register here.
Healthy Teen Relationship Campaign: As a part of this year’s international campaign ’16 days of action’ Safer Somerset Partnership has launched its Healthy Teen Relationship campaign which will run December-January. There is an animated video highlighting signs of an abusive and unhealthy relationships. In the first day it had over 2000 viewings but SSP need your help to spread the message by looking at and sharing it yourself. There is a landing page on the revamped Somerset Survivors website.
Nominations wanted from Somerset for the first ever NHSEI South West Celebration of Practice Nursing Awards: After 5 years of successfully impacting on practice nurse recruitment, retention and return, the General Practice Nurse 10 Point Plan (GPN 10PP) comes to a close in March 2021. The South West Celebration of Practice Nursing 2021 event will be a virtual event on the evening of February 11th to celebrate the amazing work that has happened and the [people who have achieved it. Please save the date in your diary and more importantly NHSEI wants your help finding the nurses who deserve to receive an award. There are eight categories and you can nominate yourself or a colleague. We want to see the good work that general practice nursing in Somerset has achieved over the past 5 years recognised and celebrated on the regional stage, see here to find out more and make a nomination.
GP Safehouse: We are currently experiencing some technical problems with the advocate area on the GP safehouse we hope this will be resolved very soon, in the meantime if you do need any support please do contact us directly at the LMC office.
And Finally...
The Fab LMC team are fairly used to the odd phone call in the office that does not relate strictly to LMC business, this week it was topped by a call from a local baker informing us that a GP has two quiches to pick up before 2 PM! The GP concerned has been e mailed “Every little helps”
Elf Day: The LMC team took part in Elf Day on Tuesday 1st December, we all dressed up as elves (check our twitter feed for the evidence) elf names which ranged from Twinkle Toes Snowflake to Freddy Stripytights. Elf Day is all about raising money for people affected by Dementia What is Elf Day? | Alzheimer's Society. We are pleased to announce we raised £100. Thank you to everyone who supported us.
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
Follow us on Twitter
Download the App
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
We have updated our privacy policies on both the Somerset LMC and Somerset GP Education trust websites.
