Somerset LMC Weekly Update Wednesday 23rd December 2020
Date sent: Wednesday 23 December 2020
All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here
Goodness what a year it has been, we would like to wish all our hard working colleagues a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We do hope you all get time to relax and recharge with family and friends, and stay safe and well. The LMC office will be closing from 4.30 PM on Wednesday 23rd December and will reopen at 8.30 on Thursday 31st December, if you do have an urgent matter there are mobile contacts on the LMC office answerphone.
- Indemnity arrangements for the Covid-19 vaccination programme
- Covid 19 Primary Care SOP general practice guidance V4 22.12 (changes highlighted in Yellow)
- Somerset Pharmacy opening times over Christmas and New Year
- New to practice fellowships
- Launch of the Institute of General Practice Management (UK)
- BMA and RCGP statement on ‘Cancard’
- Registering Armed Forces Personnel
Somerset New to Practice programmes for Newly Qualified GPs and GPNs Resolving questions about the guidance and funding mean we can now re-launch both these programmes which provide participants with -support, learning and development as they establish themselves at the start of their careers, and with - funding to ensure that they can have the time to make the most of the programmes. Every newly qualified GP and GPN will benefit from what is on offer and we are asking Practice Mangers to please ensure that all GPs and GPNs working in their practices who have completed training and qualified since November 2018 see the relevant flyer and application form. We will then contact PMs of all applicants to arrange for quarterly reimbursement payments. Participants and practices can decide whether the GP or GPN takes part in the programme within or on top of their normal working week and therefore whether the reimbursement payment is within or in addition to normal salary. This flexibility should allow ALL newly qualified GPs and GPNs to join the Somerset programmes.
GPN Flyer GPN application form GP Flyer GP application form
We are delighted to have appointed Catherine Ievers and Alison Williams as programme leads. They begin their work in January so in the meantime please direct any queries to martyn.hughes@nhs.net
Launch of the Institute of General Practice Management (UK) The Institute of Institute of General Practice Management (IGM) was launched this week, with the aim of being recognised as the professional body that represents all managers working within general practice in the UK. The BMA has had initial discussions with members of IGPM and will be building on this in the future about supporting General Practice. Read more in this communication about the formation of IGPM. We are meeting the founders of this initiative on January 6th to establish how best to offer support locally.
BMA and RCGP statement on ‘Cancard’ Some concerns have been raised by practices about the Cancard UK and its proposed ‘GP endorsed’ ID card. The website offers application for: ‘A holographic photo ID card. Designed in collaboration with GPs and verified at the patients surgery...for people who qualify for a legal prescription but are unable to afford one who meet the following criteria:-
- Have a diagnosis (confirmed by their GP) that is currently being prescribed for privately.
- Have tried two types of prescription medication or have discussed and discounted these options based on side effect profile or dependence concerns.
- Are unable to afford a private prescription.
- Are required to be in possession of a small amount of Cannabis in order to manage their symptoms.
- Are at risk of criminalisation.”
The BMA & RCGP support the use of ‘cannabis-based products for medicinal use...’ under the supervision of specialist clinicians or prescription of MHRA authorised licenced products by doctors who have the necessary clinical experience and competences...The BMA and RCGP cannot however support the use of the Cancard, nor the suggestion that UK registered GPs sign a declaration confirming a diagnosis in order for the card to be issued.
The Cancard UK website states that the Cancard has been designed in collaboration with GPs, but neither the RCGP nor BMA have been formally consulted or given endorsement.
Whilst we sympathise with patients who struggle to pay a private prescription charge, we do not believe that this is a justifiable reason to encourage the purchase of unregulated unlicensed cannabis products from unregulated or illegal dealers.
If a patient is deemed to meet the criteria for an NHS prescription for an MHRA authorised prescriptible product then this may be issued where appropriate. Those patients on low incomes or with medical conditions qualifying for prescription charge exemption will be exempt from prescription charge in line with current regulations.
Read the BMA guidance on Cannabis-based medicinal products here Read the RCGP clinical guidance Cannabis-based medication: an interim desktop guide
Registering Armed Forces Personnel – The new SNOMED code to record military Veterans is 753651000000107 "Military Veteran". Please see link to our website for further information
Kind Regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
TEL: 01823 331428
Fax:01823 338561
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