Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 12th June 2015
Date sent: Friday 12 June 2015
Sent to Somerset GPs, Practice Managers and Lead Nurses Previous updates
- Temporary Residents and Forgotten Medicines
- Freedom of information request
- Group A Streptococcal Infections
- Seasonal Tick bite Reminder
- Changes to wheelchair services
Temporary Residents and Forgotten Medicines
The CCG is this summer re-launching its annual campaign to encourage visitors to the county who have forgotten their medication to request urgent supplies from a community pharmacy rather than via a GP practice. Although NHSE does not yet commission pharmacies to provide this service, many will do so, though some may charge a fee. Whilst practices in other parts of the country may not agree to use the emergency supply regulation (which authorises emergency supply by a community pharmacy so long as the practice agrees to provide the prescription within 72hrs) there are obvious patient safety benefits if all prescriptions are issued by the home practice. The LMC therefore endorses the CCG request that, if approached by one of their patients on holiday in another part of the country, practices should agree to issue appropriate prescriptions, always taking into account clinical need and any abuse of drugs concerns Practice Poster
Freedom of information request
Many Somerset practices have received a FOI concerning the Care.Data pathfinder project, Somerset CCG received a similar FOI request earlier in June requesting a list of all practices signed up to take part in the Pathfinder project, and responded by withholding information requested and applying the section 22, Information intended for future publication exemption. Having spoken to Allison Nation today she has asked that practices hold their reply for the moment as the CCG will be issuing advice and information on the FOI for all practices by the end of next week when further detail on the project will become available and this will be well within the 20 day window to reply under a FOI request.
Group A streptococcal infections
Public Health England is continuing to monitor notifications of scarlet fever cases in England following the substantial elevation in in the first quarter of 2015. Surveillance shows a sustained reduction in cases in England over recent weeks, although levels do remain slightly elevated. As of the end of May 2015, scarlet fever activity has declined across the country and is showing a typical seasonal pattern. Invasive disease rates are above average, but remain within the upper bounds of normal seasonal levels for this time of year.
Group A streptococcal infections: fifth update on seasonal activity, 2014 to 2015
Seasonal tick-bite reminder
Anticipating the increased risk of tick-associated diseases during springtime, and the fact that untreated infections can result in serious illness, PHE recently issued a seasonal warning for the general public. PHE is working with local councils to raise awareness of ticks and the risks to health.
Lyme disease is the most significant tick-borne infection in the UK. Although recorded incidence is low compared to some other European countries and North America, trend data suggests that case numbers tripled between 2001 and 2012 to between 1000 and 2000 cases a year. See links below for up-to-date guidance on diagnosis, management and treatment, surveillance and epidemiology of Lyme disease.
- Tick bite risks and prevention of Lyme disease: factsheet, March 2015.
- Lyme disease: guidance, data and analysis, PHE health protection collection webpage.
Changes To wheelchair Services Practices will have received the information and new referral form for Millbrook Healthcare, we have raised this current form with the CCG as commisisoners of the service and the fact that it is excessive and on questioning the service they appear adamant that if the form is not filled in IN FULL then it will be refused, although some referrals have been accepted on partial completion, we have therefore sort clarity as GPs are not in a position to complete the form and the CCG have assured us that this is being looked at and we will receive further advice shortly.
Kind Regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
TEL: 01823 331428
Fax:01823 338561
www.somersetlmc.co.uk
