Somerset LMC weekly Update Friday 20 November
Date sent: Friday 20 November 2015
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- COG prescribing letter and data collection form
- Guidance on requirements for registering with a GP
- Dramatic Benefits from Primary School Age Flu Vaccination Pilots
- CQC publishes new web tools for GP practices
- Chaand Nagpaul’s latest newsletter
- One place available - Medical Terminology for non-clinical staff, 25 November, Glastonbury Surgery, book on-line
COG prescribing letter and data collection form
The LMC have expressed their disappointment at the tone of the email regarding this matter and its accompanying letter sent to Practices earlier this week. We feel that Practices have already gone to great lengths to reduce Prescribing costs and find the request for Practices to explain why they have not adopted all of the recommendations inappropriate. The completion of the template is not contractual nor is the requirement for Practices to ‘immediately’ commit to the adoption of the 7 proposed actions which will incur additional work which is not funded.
We would of course encourage Practices to continue to endeavour to reduce prescribing costs in manner best suited to the patient population they serve.
Guidance on requirements for registering with a GP
NHS England has worked with patient groups and advocacy organisations to produce guidance on registering with a GP. It clarifies that patients do not legally need to provide documentary evidence of identity, immigration status or proof of address, to register with a GP. Practices should not refuse registration on such grounds and there is no contractual duty to seek such evidence. This approach is supported by the GPC. The Department of Health will shortly be consulting on extending charging of overseas visitors. However, the consultation does not propose introducing charges for anyone attending an NHS appointment with a nurse or GP in primary medical care.
CQC publishes new web tools for GP practices
Including brief overview of the inspection process, and sign-posts to essential and recommended reading, Examples of inadequate care, Updated guidance for registering GP federations, Interactive map of GP practice ratings in England, Nigel’s surgery: Tips and mythbusters for GP practices. Link to document
Dramatic Benefits from Primary School Age Flu Vaccination Pilots
Public Health England have just released some figures about the impact of school age nasal flu vaccination in the winter of 2014-15. GP consultations for primary school aged children with influenza like illness (ILI) were down by 94%, A&E respiratory attendances were down 74% and hospital admissions for confirmed influenza were down 94% for the same group, and even amongst adults ILI consultations were 59% lower.
This is clearly a very effective intervention. Link to Childrens Flu Success document
Best wishes
Somerset LMC
Crown Medical Centre, Venture Way, Taunton, TA2 8QY
Tel: (01823) 331 428
Fax: (01823) 338 561
