Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 29th January 2021
Date sent: Friday 29 January 2021
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Somerset Primary Care Board
- Updated IP&C guidance
- Safer Somerset Partnership and Domestic Abuse Newsletter
- GP News from SWISH - January
- Online Consultation & Accurx Funding
- Tremendous response to the new Community Pharmacist Consultation (CPCS)
- Pre-registration for offenders leaving prison
- Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP)
- Dr Simon Davies
- And Finally...
Somerset Primary Care Board: Met on Tuesday 26th. Amongst the topics discussed were: the contesting plans for reorganising local authorities in the county (the PCB has decided to remain neutral over whether a unitary authority or a reduced number of more powerful district councils is best); support for more consultant involvement in MDTs; the importance of clinical primary care input in any workforce planning; the Somerset Collaborative Forum and how general practice should be represented and accountable for decisions taken in system wide meetings as we move to an Integrated Care System; the continued funding of online consultation platforms (see separate item); the CVP and how it has encouraged cooperative working; the use of the Covid Support Fund money not already distributed to practices but to be vested in SPH; COVID@HOME and the Long Covid Support service.
Updated IP&C guidance: There are 9 amendments mainly directed at secondary care, but the most pertinent to primary care is amendment 2 as stated below that patients are required wear facemasks in healthcare settings and not face coverings.
2. The use of facemasks for staff and patients (if tolerated) is required across all care pathways in the UK. This is in addition to social distancing and hand hygiene for staff, patients/individuals and visitors in both clinical and non-clinical areas to further reduce transmission risk. Physical distancing of 2 metres remains standard practice.
Online Consultation & Accurx Funding: On Tuesday the Primary Care Board discussed the continuation of online consultation tools including AccuRx after the end of this financial year. Although central funding may be available recent NHSEI guidance has been interpreted by the CCG as meaning it will be responsible for the continuation of these useful innovations. Further details will follow but practices should be reassured that no retrograde steps will be taken.
Tremendous response to the new Community Pharmacist Consultation (CPCS): Last week we included an item on this same day minor ailment scheme. The CCG which will be providing support to implement the CPCS was delighted when 15 practices including several whole PCNs expressed an interest but it’s not too late to join in. To find out more see animation here and/or contact the CCG’s Ed Garvey ed.garvey@nhs.net
Pre-registration for offenders leaving prison: The contractual requirement of the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract 2017/18 (page 64) to accept patients from the secure estate prior to their release has increased importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other benefits, pre-registration may help the smooth rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. For individuals leaving the secure estate between the first and second doses of their vaccination who have been registered with a community GP, their GP record will be updated with their vaccination status. GP practices are asked to ensure that processes are in place to meet this contractual requirement, with information on how to do this here.
Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP): is a key priority from the NHS People (HR) Plan. Health Education England has set up the National Centre for Advancing Practice to recognise those working at this level and are also funding a project in Somerset to identify the current and trainee or aspiring ACP workforce and their training needs. A survey in the SW in September did not reach all those targeted in Somerset and so had limited results. The Somerset Faculty of Extending & Advancing practice wants a fuller picture of current and future training needs. If you are an aspiring, trainee or current Advanced or Consultant Practitioner and would be willing to complete a short local Somerset survey please contact Deborah.Lane7@nhs.net or Julie.Reeve@ydh.nhs.uk as soon as possible. Please also contact Deborah or Julie of you would like to be added to the email list for updates and newsletters about Advancing Practice or to join the Advanced Clinical Practitioner forum.
Dr Simon Davies: Consultant Haematologist retired on 28th January 2021. Simon says " Please pass on my best wishes to all GP’s and other practice clinicians : it has been great working with you as a laboratory doctor and haematology clinician over the last 25 years. Somerset has excellent primary care and you should all be proud of yourselves for maintaining such high standards for your patients. Keep the dialogue going, and Somerset Pathology and the Haematologists will continue to support you as best they can : a new colleague Dr Oliver Miles will start mid-February, specialising in myeloma and lymphoma, and haemophilia and coagulation specialisation will now be led by Dr Jacqueline (Jackie) Ruell. Au revoir!”
And Finally...
ENT appointments at RUH: The LMC have been informed by a practice that the wait is now 52 weeks from when a patient is added to the waiting list, practices referring to RUH may wish to share this with their patients when referring. RUH have said they have lost over 6 months of clinics due to Covid.
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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