Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 8th October 2021
Date sent: Friday 8 October 2021
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Important Survey on Action to be Taken by GPs in Response to Attacks
- Medical Exemptions for COVID Vaccination
- NHS 111 Booking into General Practice
- Free Paediatric Pulse Oximeters from the CCG
- SCID Newborn Bloodspot Screening from CHIS
- RCN SW Black History Month event 11th October
- Dispensing Fees to Fall by an Average 33.4p (15.6%)
- Colorectal Suspected Cancer Hub Pilot - Postponed
- PSNC Briefing 040.21 for General Practice Teams – changes to the NHS community pharmacy contract in 2021/22
- Help with Wellbeing
- Some Good News!
- Job Vacancies
IMPORTANT SURVEY ON ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY GPs IN RESPONSE TO ATTACKS: Last week, GPC activated on on-line survey of the profession to ask GPs’ opinions of the present situation in general practice and to assess the kinds of action that people might be prepared to take in the face of the current state of emergency. Please make sure that your voice is heard to inform the BMA of the strength of feeling within the profession and the measures that people might be prepared to take. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BMA_GP
MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FOR COVID VACCINATION: The BMA has managed to modify the nevertheless still unwelcome DHSC systematic medical exemptions process imposed on 30 September. This is supposed to ensure that those who, for medical reasons, should not be vaccinated (and/or be tested e.g. those with autism or learning difficulties for whom it would be too distressing) for COVID-19 are not disadvantaged when a NHS COVID passport is needed. Given the need for clinical judgement and access to patient records, GPs, secondary care clinicians & midwives are being asked to assess applications. Patients will bring prepopulated application forms produced after a 119 pre-screening process. After consulting the notes and the box ticking exercise these will then be sent off for action rather like a DWP form. Read the guidance detailing the process and clinical criteria. SFE has been adjusted so there will be a fee of £44 for each validated form only. There is, worryingly no mention of an appeals process and we can only hope it will not involve practices in writing supporting letters given that the clinician will have already made their judgement according to the strict criteria and medical record content.
NHS 111 BOOKING INTO GENERAL PRACTICE: During the pandemic a temporary change was made to the requirement for practices to make available to NHS 111 one appointment per 3000 registered patients to one appointment per 500 registered patients. This change stopped at the end of September and the contractual requirement reverted to 1:3000.
FREE PAEDIATRIC PULSE OXIMETERS FROM THE CCG: Dr Kate Staveley writes, “Paediatric saturation meters, cables and disposable probes have now gone out to practices (last deliveries should be at the start of next week). These are a gift from the CCG to help with the systemwide response to the predicted RSV surge. These are for use in children under 3 years and the disposable probes are for use while there remain concerns about covid. The meters come with a three year warranty. Further details including the user manual will come in the CCG GP bulletin. As they are now practice property add them to your equipment register for maintenance.
SCID NEWBORN BLOODSPOT SCREENING FROM CHIS: a bi-partite letter has been issued relating to rotavirus vaccination and SCID newborn bloodspot screening.
- A 2-year evaluation of screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) started on 1st September.
- Babies with SCID should not be vaccinated with a live virus so BCG and Rotarix are contraindicated.
CHIS (Child Health Information Service) will be sending you the results of all 10 newborn bloodspot tests for babies registered at your practice (or whose mother is registered if they are not yet registered) at approximately 28 days of age. SCID screening is not being offered in this area so the results will show “Screening not offered” unless the baby has moved here from an area where screening is taking place. There is no confirmed start date as of yet, an additional a column has been added to the CSV list we send of children due immunisations showing the SCID result for each baby. It is not on the PDF version of the list.
Finally, we have added a line to the immunisation reminder letter asking parents/carers to bring their baby’s bloodspot results letter to their first appointment for clinicians to see if they wish.
If you have any general queries about the changes please contact Tracy Cook, GP Engagement Manager tracy.cook@inhealth-intelligence.com or for emails including PID please use tracy.cook22@nhs.net
DISPENSING FEES TO FALL BY AN AVERAGE 33.4p (15.6%): The Dispensing Doctors Association (DDA) announced the reduction this week made by NHSEI to deliver the agreed total of dispensing fees for England. The fall in the fee scale reflects an emerging overspend caused by increased dispensing in the pandemic. It comes despite ‘no financial detriment’ pledges* made by NHSEI during COVID and representations made by the DDA. The DDA has produced a template letter for members to write to MPs about the importance of fees to dispensing practices. It is proposed in April 2022 the fee scale will increase dispensing fees by an average 27.6p making up some of the difference.
* see also verse 9 of the Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning.
COLORECTAL SUSPECTED CANCER HUB PILOT - POSTPONED: The LMC are disappointed to hear that due to operational issues the colorectal hub will be postponed until further notice. As reported in the weekly update last week the pilot was due to start on 11th October.
HELP WITH WELLBEING: In these toughest of times we all need the skills to reset our busy days to help us feel able to carry on. Thinking Pitstops is a way of doing this and takes less than 10 minutes to do. Free Thinking Pitstops training is available again to anybody working in primary care. Details here.
SOME GOOD NEWS! Somerset practices have been shown to be among the lowest in the country for antibiotic prescribing in children. NHSEI figures show that, in the rolling 12 month average August 2020-July 2021, Somerset was the third lowest for age 0-4, 4th lowest for 5-9s and 6th lowest for 10-14s. (There were 135 CCGs in April 2020.)
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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