Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 28th May 2021
Date sent: Friday 28 May 2021
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Updated Enhanced Service Specification
- PCSE GP Payments and Pensions
- Online consultations – the contractual position
- GP Data for Planning and Research, legal direction (England)
- Neurodevelopment Pathway for Autism and ADHD from September 2021
- GP practices facing a Tsunami of patients
- NHS Health Checks
- The new Somerset Emotional Wellbeing programme
- Sessional GP Survey
Updated Enhanced Service Specification: The Enhanced Service Specification for the COVID-19 vaccination programme 2020/21 has been updated to introduce a 3 month maximum period within which payment claims must be made, a change to restrict PCN groupings to using a single Point of Care system, as well as a change to permit the administration and payment claim of a single dose vaccine
PCSE GP Payments and Pensions: PCSE have made available a webinar they held with practices to understand the changes that will be implemented to the system from the 1st June you can view the webinar on youtube.
Online consultations – the contractual position: Before the pandemic, as part of the 2019 GP contract deal (paragraph 5.10 (i)) GPC England agreed that it would eventually become contractual for practices to offer online consultations during core hours. This agreement has not yet been added to the contract regulations, so is not currently a contractual requirement. However, GPC also agreed that practices should offer online consultations as early as possible, provided that the necessary infrastructure, but it would not become a requirement until it is entered into the contract regulations. It is therefore for practices to determine how best they use online consultation systems, including what hours they are available and they should try to use them in such a way that helps with triage and workload management, enabling the delivery of a safer and more accessible service to all their patients.
GP Data for Planning and Research, legal direction (England): On Wednesday 12 April, NHS Digital issued a Data Provision Notice (DPN) to all practices notifying them of their intention to begin extracting data as part of the GP Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) programme. GPDPR is the successor to the GP Extract Service (GPES) and it is a legal requirement for practices to comply with the DPN. Your IT supplier will be in touch separately with instructions on how to comply as these vary by system.
These are the next steps that practices need to take include complying with DPN, update your Privacy notice, consider as a practice if you will proactively be contacting patients to inform them of what is changing and register type1 opt outs in a timely fashion. See also these key documents/links:
Data Provision Notice (DPN)
Privacy statement
Patient information on GPDPR
Transparency notice
Type 1 opt-out form
Next steps for GPs
A joint statement from BMA and RCGP can be found here. For any local queries and help please do e mail somccg.GPDPO@nhs.net.
Neurodevelopment Pathway for Autism and ADHD from September 2021: we have been asked to clarify in reference to the article below shared on the 30th April that this currently only applies in the pilot areas listed below and will be county wide by September.
The referral pathway for these groups will change, so that ALL patients will need to be referred directly from their school (who will be aware of the new changes and forms). As a result GPs will not be involved in the referral process, with the exception of under 5s, home educated children and those where there is a dispute between parents and the school. Currently it is being piloted in Taunton, Yeovil and East Mendip.
GP practices facing a Tsunami of patients: We thought we would share this honest and moving video by Dr Dean Eggitt picked up by the BBC yesterday.
NHS Health Checks: As COVID restrictions lessen, the NHS Health Checks programme is being resumed. As part of this, the Public Health Team at Somerset County Council, who commission the programme from Thrive Tribe Ltd, are inviting practice locations not currently signed up to Electronic Data Transfer (EDT) of health check data to begin to receive patient results in this way. Practices signed up to EDT for health check data have this automatically coded into the EMIS system. Public Health will shortly be communicating with practices with full information on how to sign up which is a short two-step process of adding Thrive Tribe as a new trading partner on EMIS and then supplying some additional information to Thrive Tribe by email. The sign-up process should take no longer than 15 minutes but will save practices administration time uploading health check data. Further support on the process is available from Thrive Tribe should practices need it and will be detailed in the invitation email. The pdf results system will remain for practices who do not wish to sign up to EDT.
The new Somerset Emotional Wellbeing programme: This has been set up to protect the Wellbeing of the whole health and care workforce including everyone in general practice. This has never been more important than now. The next LMC/TH Thursday lunchtime webinar on June 3rd is an essential introduction to the programme for every general practice manager, employer, team leader and supervisor please. Book here.
Sessional GP Survey: “Sessional GPs are recognised to be vital part of the workforce - where would the Somerset NHS be without them? But their voices are seldom heard. We want to help put this right. Please answer our brief survey and if you’re not a sessional GP please tell any you know about this important information gathering project. We want it to be the beginning of a new deal for sessional doctors which will benefit us all.” Closing date 4th June 5PM.
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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We have updated our privacy policies on both the Somerset LMC and Somerset GP Education trust websites.
