Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 22nd July 2022
Date sent: Friday 22 July 2022
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- Rise in GP Appointments
- Sample Quality in Hot Weather – Potential for Pseudohypokalaemia
- Dementia Shared Care Agreement
- Responsibility for Prescribing between Primary and Secondary Care
- Edoxaban
- National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021
- District Neighbourhood Service Leads
- Arden's CQC and Business Rules
- GP Digital Lab
- Free Legal Surgery Sessions with Veale Wasbrough Vizards 21st September
- Job Vacancies
Rise in GP Appointments: Recent ONS data show that UK services output grew in May 2022 with human health and social work activities growing by 2.1%, mainly because of a large rise in GP appointments, with 24 million in April 2022 jumping to 27.6 million in May. These figures are yet another example of how hard GPs and their teams are working, but also why we desperately need more resource to close the workforce gap in primary care. Read the full statement by Dr Farah Jameel, chair of GPC England, here.
Sample Quality in Hot Weather – Potential for Pseudohypokalaemia: We would advise practices that if there is a centrifuge available in the practice that all serum samples (particularly those requiring electrolyte measurements) are centrifuged before transport to lab, allowing at least 10 minutes for tubes to clot before centrifugation. In warm weather, increased activity of the Na-K ATPase causes a shift of potassium from the serum into the red cells resulting in pseudohypokalaemia. If practices are considering acquiring a centrifuge, please contact lab for advice if needed. Dr David James, CMO SYNLAB UK & Ireland.
Dementia Shared Care Agreement: The LMC are pleased to share that the shared care agreement for managing patients on memory medication has been re-instated meaning that ongoing annual reviews should be conducted by secondary care. Many patients were discharged and it would now be appropriate to re-refer them to secondary care as per the shared care agreement.
Responsibility for Prescribing between Primary and Secondary Care: More generally guidance exists on shared care prescribing reminding us that there are situations when the GP may say no to prescribing, click here, this includes the list of possible circumstances where it may not be appropriate for a shared care agreement to be agreed, or where an exception to an agreement may be appropriate, so that the hospital/specialist retains responsibility for prescribing. Such circumstances include:
- The GP has insufficient information to participate in a shared care prescribing arrangement where applicable.
- No shared care prescribing agreement exists.
- The GP does not feel competent in taking on clinical responsibility for the prescribing of a specialist medicine.
Edoxaban: First line for non-valvular AF not proximal DVT or PE Following a number of incidents reported by Devon hospitals where deep vein thrombosis [DVT] and pulmonary embolism [PE] patients have been inappropriately started on edoxaban, prescribers are reminded that the recent recommendation from NHS England to use edoxaban in preference to other DOACs, where clinically appropriate, is for atrial fibrillation only. The Somerset formularys advises use of apixaban or rivaroxaban for anticoagulation treatment, for at least three months, for people with confirmed proximal DVT or PE.
National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021: GPC Writes. We have recently been asked if the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 guidance is mandatory for general practice. We sought clarification on this from CQC last year and it was made clear that it will continue to regulate based on the actual regulations and the official code of practice. Its infection control mythbuster website page addresses this directly. We also clarified the contractual position at that time, receiving confirmation that it was not a mandatory requirement. There has been no contractual change since then.
District Neighbourhood Service Leads: Please find a list of the service leads and their contact details. The LMC continue to liaise with the service to address the issues that have been raised by practices.
Arden's CQC and Business Rules: Practices will be aware that the CQC has developed a suite of clinical searches which are now routinely used when carrying out inspections. Designed to focus on areas of clinical importance, reflecting the profession’s agreed shared view of quality and to contribute to a consistent regulatory approach. The majority of the searches focus on safe prescribing, monitoring of higher risk drugs and identification of potential missed diagnoses. The business rule and code sets can be accessed here.
GP Digital Lab: NHS England South West Region Digital Team have designed a survey aimed at helping to identify some of the challenges General practice are facing which could potentially be addressed by technology and digital ways of working. As part of this engagement, they have formulated five problem statements, set out in this survey. To date they have only received 3 replies from Somerset practices and it would be great if you could review these problem statements and rank them in order of importance. There is also room to add a sixth problem, if there is an area you think has been missed. The survey will close at the end of July.
Free Legal Surgery Sessions with Veale Wasbrough Vizards 21st September: Practices may remember the complimentary surgery sessions we held with Ros Lockhart from Lockharts solicitors at the LMC office that proved to be very popular. Since Lockharts merged with Veales Wasborough these have been re-instated and we have arranged a time when Oliver Pool from VWV will be at the LMC office in Taunton to chat to Somerset practices in 40 minute slots. If you would like to book one of these 1-2-1 legal advice sessions please email jsharp@VWV.co.uk , further details can be found here.
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
Follow us on Twitter
Download the App
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
We have updated our privacy policies on both the Somerset LMC and Somerset GP Education trust websites.
