Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 26th February 2021
Date sent: Friday 26 February 2021
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Dr Clifford John Mann OBE FRCEM FRCP 1962-2021
- Updated GMC guidance on prescribing
- Retired doctors – return to practice to support the pandemic effort
- QOF
- GP Matters Newsletter - March Edition
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Campaign
- Contract Valued for 2021/22
- Providing a letter to say a patient is of 'Unsound Mind' for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS)
- Apprenticeships Can Help General Practice in So Many Ways 4th March
- Remote surgery sessions with Veales Wasborough 11th May
- Online Fit Note research help
- And Finally...
Dr Clifford John Mann OBE FRCEM FRCP 1962-2021: The LMC was sad to learn of Dr Mann’s tragic death after a short illness on Saturday 20th February. He was Consultant in the Emergency Department at Musgrove Park Hospital for 22 years. Cliff (Ch Cross & Wminster, BSc. MB BS 1986) was an outstanding clinician with a first class mind who rose to the top of his profession. He served as President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine (2013-16) and then as National Clinical Advisor in A&E to NHSE. He spoke truth to power. Cliff wore his eminence lightly with modesty, courtesy and humour. He will be fondly remembered as as a brilliant, pragmatic and, above all, kind doctor and colleague by all those who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him. Cliff was also a devoted family man: our hearts go out to Rhona and their children. (BCM)
Updated GMC guidance on prescribing: As many are doing more and more remote consultations we thought it important to highlight that the GMC last week published updated guidance on prescribing to support doctors who are increasingly seeing patients via remote and virtual consultations.
Key updates include:
- New advice for doctors not to prescribe controlled drugs unless they have access to patient records, except in emergencies.
- Stronger advice on information sharing, making it clear that if a patient refuses consent to share information with other relevant health professionals it may be unsafe to prescribe.
- Alignment with the GMC’s updated Decision making and consent guidance, highlighting the importance of good two-way dialogue between patients and doctors in all settings.
New guidance can be found here.
Retired doctors – return to practice to support the pandemic effort: Given the intensity of workload pressures and the mounting backlog due to COVID-19 the BMA has recently updated its online guidance for doctors considering a return to clinical practice in the short, medium or long term and for those wishing to specifically support the vaccination programme. This follows consultation with NHSE/I and NHS Professionals.
QOF: The GPC has confirmed that QOF will restart in April 2021, remote consultations will continue to be an acceptable way of delivering QOF related reviews. While the pandemic continues it may not be possible to include an FEV1 as part of a COPD review. If patients need spirometry for diagnostic purposes practices should refer to a commissioned service. There is no requirement for the practice to do this. Guidance on Spirometry in general practice (bma.org.uk) can be found here.
Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Campaign: Urgent referrals for suspected lung cancer have seen a reduction as a result of COVID-19 and have been slow to recover compared with other cancer pathways. They were 35% lower between March–November 2020 in England and Wales compared with the same time period in 2019, or around 17,800 fewer people.
As a result, Public Health England is running a lung cancer campaign encouraging patients to present to their GP, so you might see more patients presenting with potential symptoms. CRUK has a one page guide on its website for information and practical advice on managing patients with suspected lung cancer during the pandemic, including updates in national guidance.
Contract Valued for 2021/22: Global sum will increase by £3.82 (4.1%) to £97.28; QOF point value up by £6.33 (3.3%) to £201.16 while OOH adjustment rises by 14p (3.0%) to £4.59.
Providing a letter to say a patient is of 'Unsound Mind' for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS): We know that this has become a national issue. Such a request is asking for a professional opinion and is not one of the certificates listed for which no charge can be made according to contract. However the BMA made this statement on Wednesday: Following discussion of this issue at today’s Professional Fees Committee meeting it was agreed we will take this forward with BMA Legal to try and obtain an opinion on the broader issue of collaborative fees in the wake of the unsuccessful judicial review on [fees for] child safeguarding.
Apprenticeships Can Help General Practice in So Many Ways 4th March: Thursday lunchtime March 4th 13.00-14.00.
To help you find out more about:
1. How apprenticeships can be used in general practice for clinical and non-clinical staff to:
- increase numbers of young people choosing to work in primary care
- provide local alternative training routes for student nurses etc.
- nurture and develop talent in your practice
- upskill existing team members to take on new roles and responsibilities
- help everyone realise their career and professional hopes and plans
2. The simple steps you need to take for apprenticeships work in your practice
3. What advice, support and resources are available locally to help you
Full information, contributors and Booking details here
Remote surgery sessions with Veales Wasborough 11th May: Practices may remember the complimentary surgery sessions we held with Ros Lockhart from Lockharts solicitors at the LMC office that proved to be very popular. Since Lockharts merge with Veales Wasborough we have asked if these could be re- instated remotely until we can all meet again face to face, if you would like to book one of these sessions please complete the enquiry sheet and e mail direct to Sandeep Saib SSaib@vwv.co.uk further detail here
Online Fit Note research help: The DWP is developing and improving the current Fit Note uploading system for patients and wants to give GPs the opportunity to have their say on what they do and don’t like about the whole sick note process. This will allow changes to be made before the system goes live at the end of March 2021 after which it will be more difficult. So now is the time to speak out. Take the survey here – it will only take about 10 minutes.
And Finally...
Some good news, NHSE has confirmed that there is no anticipation that practices will need to open during the Easter Bank Holiday, however, depending upon supplies, the vaccination centres may need to be open.
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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