Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 6th August 2021
Date sent: Friday 6 August 2021
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Practice Staff Exemption from Isolation Guidance
- Update to ‘Influenza & COVID-19 vaccination’ in NHSEI Flu Letter - Hope for the future?
- New email for Screening & Immunisation Questions
- Somerset Pathology Services - blood bottle shortages
- NEW Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) Pathway Went Live on Wednesday 4th August
- The GP Career Plus
- Medical Examiner at YDH
- Somerset Wellbeing Conference Save the date
- C The Signs Training Webinars
Practice Staff Exemption from Isolation Guidance: The CCG has devised a process to help practices decide about doubly vaccinated staff “pinged” by the NHS COVID App before the rules change on Monday 16th August. This is on the LMC website.
Update to ‘Influenza & COVID-19 vaccination’ in NHSEI Flu Letter - Hope for the future?: After an update in the Green Book last week the following hopeful changes were made on 28th July:
Out goes 29. “… administration of the COVID-19 vaccine should ideally be scheduled with an interval of at least 7 days to another vaccination (including influenza) in order to avoid incorrect attribution of potential adverse events. Booster vaccines for COVID-19 are currently under consideration, with trials underway to ascertain whether co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines will be permissible, subject to the advice of JCVI. Early evidence on the concomitant administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines used in the UK, supports the delivery of both vaccines at the same time where appropriate.”
In comes 29. “Booster vaccines for COVID-19 are currently under consideration, with trials underway to ascertain whether co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines will be permissible, subject to the advice of JCVI. Early evidence on the concomitant administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines used in the UK, supports the delivery of both vaccines at the same time where appropriate.”
New email for Screening & Immunisation Questions: All queries and incidents re screening, immunisations including Covid-19 and flu should be sent to england.swicars@nhs.net
NEW Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) Pathway Went Live on Wednesday 4th August: The new CES pathway is only for patients who would normally go to Musgrove Park Hospital. It is not to be used for referral of patients who would normally be seen at YDH, WGH or RUH. These should continue to be referred to their local hospital. All the key documents are available in this email. I hope they and accompanying videos answer most of your questions.
The documents are:
- Community and Primary Care Cauda Equina Syndrome Pathway Document
- Community and Primary Care referral flowchart
- Patient Information Leaflet –a step-by-step guide on what is happening, and what to expect
There are three short videos:
- New CES Pathway Introduction
- The Questions to Ask CES Patients
- Outcome of Pathway, and How we will keep you Informed
There is an EMIS self-populating template that is available for each practice to upload on to their EMIS system.
The referral template collects all the information that A&E will need. Once complete call the ‘Red Phone’ to activate the MRI scan and then email the referral form directly to A&E.
If your practice has not downloaded this template, during this transition phase of the pathways a word version of the from can be found on the Somerset FT Trauma and Orthopaedics webpage.
A patient information and expectation leaflet is available here. We believe this is a vital part of the pathway. It will help the patient understand what is happening and why the emergency assessment is important.
I’m sure you are all aware of the National Back and Radicular Pain Pathway but I have attached a link as we refer to this document within the pathway. National low backand radicular pain pathway (versusarthritis.org)
The GP Career Plus: scheme is a series of twelve facilitated and financially supported peer support meetings over 6 months - please download the flyer for more info. The intention is to start the next set of GP Plus sessions on 21 October 2021. These sessions will take place on a Thursday morning at approximately 2 week intervals. The setup for the sessions will be a mix of face-to-face and zoom meetings with timings starting at 10am lasting 2.5-3 hours.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact Thelma Gotsell on thelma.gotsell@nhs.net
GP-Link Groups provide an opportunity to meet up informally on Zoom with colleagues outside work. Keeping in touch and being able to debrief and share is particularly important now. Why not join one of the new online evening groups being set up in by facilitators from GP Career Plus with the support of the LMC, SGPET and SPH - full detail here.
Summary of support for GPs in Somerset
Medical Examiner at YDH: Medical examiners (MEs) are trained doctors who will scrutinise all YDH Death Certificates (MCCD) to ensure that the right referrals are made for further investigation. YDH is looking for three members of staff or GPs to undertake the ME role for 1 PA (4 hrs) a week. You will have responsibility for independently reviewing the circumstances of each death not already referred to HM Coroner, discussing with the junior doctor completing the MCCD and liaising with the bereaved families or carers. It will include working with the Coroner’s officer and completion of Cremation Form 5 when necessary and considering cases referral for further internal review using the Structured Judgement Review tool. Training will be online modules and a training day provided by the RCP. Please find the job description here.
Budding Quincys should apply with a CV and covering letter to medical.recruitment@ydh.nhs.uk by 15th August.
C The Signs Training Webinars: The CCG is inviting all clinical staff, including locums and sessional GPs, and admin teams to get training by clicking on one of the links below. 98% of Somerset Practices will be using this new Early Cancer Diagnosis Digital Support tool in September to their practice.
C the Signs webinar sign-up for clinical team.
C the Signs webinar sign-up for admin team
These will be recorded, so if you are unable to attend email training@cthesigns.co.uk for a copy. Individual Practices can also contact C the Signs directly to arrange your own group PCN/Practice training session, at a time and date to suit your practice teams. For any questions please email project lead: Tanisha.greenwood1@nhs.net
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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