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Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 20th May 2022

Date sent: Friday 20 May 2022

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers          This and previous updates are available here

Ambulance Wait Times: We are hearing of cases of Category 1 Ambulances being called and arriving with outstandingly long waits, placing the patient and clinician in a high risk position. Please could practices email the LMC office somersetlmc.office@nhs.net examples with the NHS no and brief summary in order for the LMC to raise with commissioners.

LMC General Queries: A group of LMCs have worked together to create a LMC Support network and shared website for all LMCs to post useful documents and common queries, from this a LMC general queries document has been developed which we hope you will find useful.

Weight Management Service MPH have significant waits for first time appointment of around 12 months, and so urgent appointments are now limited to those patients whose weight is delaying cancer treatment. There are several resources available for patients whilst they are waitingThe criteria for referral to the service is age ≥ 18 and BMI ≥35 kg/m2 with no active binge eating disorder (see point 7 in attachment). The criteria for bariatric surgery on the NHS is BMI ≥40 kg/m2, or BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 with a co-morbidity that improves with weight loss (e.g. type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea). Patients must attend a medical (tier 3) service before moving on to the surgical team (tier 4), but they are very keen to see patients that are not interested in surgery (around 20% of our patients go on to have bariatric surgery).

Some referrals are also mentioning the use of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss. However, at present they are still only able to prescribe Saxenda (Liraglutide 3mg) for weight loss and only for patients fulfilling the criteria below.

Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4 mg) is not yet available on the NHS for the indication of weight loss. Ozempic (Semaglutide 1mg) can still be prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Mental Health Training Offer Page on Healthy Somerset: Public Mental Health training offer has expanded they have now established a page on the Healthy Somerset website where all the courses they are currently offering can be found, including details of how to book, please follow this link: Somerset’s Mental Health Training Offer – Healthy Somerset

Domestic Abuse Training Resources - Feedback Required: The Adult Safeguarding Team at the CCG are working on capturing valuable learning to improve Domestic Abuse Training Resources with Safer Somerset Partnership and we would value your feedback on any areas you feel you would find useful for us to include. Please send any feedback to our generic Safeguarding inbox somccg.safeguardingandcla@nhs.net.

BP@Home: As part of this NHSE initiative, Somerset County Council have been distributing 2500 BP machine to practices for BP monitoring. If you would like to register your practice please complete this survey .  

Somerset New to Practice General Practice Fellowship Programme for Newly Qualified GPs: Are you or do you know a GP that has qualified since May 2021 and is/will be working in Somerset? If so this funded fellowship programme may be of interest. It is a 2 year programme designed to provide personalised support to newly qualified GPs to help gain confidence and to develop enjoyable, fulfilling and sustainable careers in general practice. NHSEI is aiming for a 100% uptake and nearly all of our Somerset GPs have joined. We started in April 21 and currently have 24 fellows, so you may already have one of our them working in your practice! We have had great feedback, and one of the highlights is the benefit of the mentoring, appreciation of paid time (£10,000 pro rata per annum) to undertake chosen CPD or interests and the online monthly Thursday lunchtime 30 minutes session with various speakers. Example topics include: knowing about appraisals; PCN overview; lifestyle medicine; managing difficult blood results on a Friday afternoon and time management. It is also wonderful to see the development of peer groups forming throughout Somerset and I really hope this continues beyond fellowship. This programme continues to evolve according to the needs and aspirations of our fellows. Our next cohort will start in October (closing date 1st September). See programme, application form and needs analysis for more information. If you would like to find out more or apply, please contact Dr Catherine Ievers catherine.ievers1@nhs.net.

LMC/STH Lunchtime Workforce Webinar - Growing Pharmacy Roles to Support Primary Care in Somerset - 26th May: In recent times the number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians supporting practices and PCNs across Somerset has grown significantly and is now a workforce of around 50 wte, delivering a wide range of high value clinical services supporting patients and the primary care team. Recruitment is challenging as there is a national and local shortage of skilled people for these roles - but there is increasing evidence that different ways of working can be attractive to individuals, beneficial for employers and good for patient care. This webinar will showcase examples of how primary care teams have benefitted from innovative pharmacy practice, and will share and discuss ideas about different approaches to securing pharmacy support in the future. This event is aimed at PCN CDs/managers interested in growing their pharmacy workforce, PCN/primary care pharmacy leads interested in sharing ideas about best practice for service and workforce development and any other pharmacy employers interested in developing collaborative models with primary care. Click here to book your place or view the agenda.

GP Forum Study Days - Bristol/Gloucester Area: Two primary care study days, each has 3 hours CPD approval, further details for Bristol 8th June and Gloucester 15th June, please do ensure that you email info@gpforum.com if you wish to register.

 

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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