Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 18th November 2022
Date sent: Friday 18 November 2022
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites!
- Enhanced Access
- Safe Working in General Practice
- Shared Care Dementia Protocol
- Patient Access to FBCs
- Reminder - GMS Core Contract Requirements
- Freedom of Information (FOI) Request
- New to Partnership Payment Scheme
- Roadmap Supervisors for First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Care Practitioners
- Being CQC Ready Online Training
- Job Vacancies
MD Soundbites!
Hospital at Home (H@H): Somerset Foundation Trust are delivering and developing a H@H programme for Frailty, Respiratory, Heart Failure and Postoperative Care. The PCNs that have seen the greatest update of this programme are Bridgwater and North Sedgemoor. Recruitment of staff to manage the programme is developing and while the number of patients currently having care provided in this way is low at the moment, it is anticipated that numbers will rise. The H@H team will be sharing example cases that have been successfully managed in this way and have offered drop in sessions for GPs to find out more. The LMC will support the delivery of community services that support our patients but we believe that patients on the pathway should have their entire care managed by the H@N team including their ‘usual’ medication. I will share further updates on this over the next few weeks but please link with your PCN CD or contact me directly on justin.geddes2@nhs.net if you have thoughts you wish to share.
Frustrations and Developing a Strategy to Survive!!: Coal face GP is tough at the moment and the frustrations of working in a rather incomplete system were made markedly clear to me this week when chatting with a GP. I had interrupted them on a busy day and what then came forth were immense frustrations of working in a health care system that is so very difficult for us to manage. Is there an answer? My colleague’s comments have resonated with me this week as I have reflected on how we cope and how we control our own destiny. Those that read my soundbite last week on the ‘Future of General Practice – House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee’ may have some further thoughts on what matters to you, if so please share. Some may have seen the letter from Professor Sir Stephen Powis this week. It is good to know that we are appreciated by our clinical leaders but being a clinical leader requires more than thank you - albeit it is appreciated. The LMC recognise our challenges. Our strategy has been submitted to the ICB. Within this the LMC are clear that we need to consider new models of care. I have previously sent an update on Employee Owned Trust as one such option. Dr Ed Ford (GP Minehead and previous CCG Chair) delivered a fantastic and very informative webinar this week – we will be sharing the video shortly but until then here are the slides.
I am in awe of the levels of resilience being shown by so many, as things are tough. Look after yourself and each other and don’t forget what a great job you do!
Justin
Enhanced Access: ICB recognises the ongoing challenges currently facing General Practice. We have been assured that there is flexibility during the working week to allow clinicians to meet on the day demands as well as meeting enhanced access hours duties. It can be that EA gives practices the opportunity to manage and record such additional demand in that defined period from 6:30pm to 8:00pm Monday to Friday in a way that best suits the PCN needs, including using all of your Primary Healthcare Team and Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme Staff as part of your PCN's delivery of the service.
Safe Working in General Practice: It is due to this crisis, that we and GPC are recommending that practices take action to preserve patient care and their own wellbeing, this GPC guidance on safe working in general practice is designed to enable practices to make decisions as to how to prioritise care, and deprioritise certain aspects of their day to day activity, within the confines of the GMS contract. The GP provider board are meeting next week to look at safe working in general practice in Somerset, more news on that soon.
Shared Care Dementia Protocol: The LMC is delighted to hear that our concerns regarding Shared Care Dementia have been listened to, and that the shared care document has been rewritten, with the new version here and available on Shared Care and PGDs - NHS Somerset . Patients will not be discharged into primary care, they will remain under secondary services.
Patient Access to FBCs: Haematology has agreed to reduce the number of alerts to patients for normal FBCs. Large stained cells is no longer in the FBC profile since the change in analysers recently. The Haematologists feel that MCHC should still be in the FBC profile, but are going to review the reference ranges. Hopefully, this will reduce unnecessary worry among patients.
Reminder - GMS Core Contract Requirements are Named GP, the Identification and Management of Patients with Frailty. Dementia and alcohol are separate contractual requirements combined in this Service. Please click link to our Top Tip page for the up to date guidance for Frailty.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Request: We have received a number of queries regarding a FOI request that a majority of practices have received this week, Kevin Caldwell has kindly produced a response to this request which practices are free to use.
New to Partnership Payment Scheme: NHS England » New to Partnership Payment Scheme , also provides a £3000 training fund to develop non-clinical partnership skills. There are a number of national courses for this, and the ones that we are aware of are the New to Partnership Workshops - PMA (pma-uk.org) and Qualitas Consortium - Home, Our support for Your business (a mix of virtual and face to face meetings in London which has been recommended).
Roadmap Supervisors for First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Care Practitioners: A reminder to all those who are planning to become Roadmap Supervisors for First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Care Practitioners, that the next available course takes place on Tuesday 13th and Tuesday 20th December, please see this flyer for more information.
Being CQC Ready Online Training: Practice Index will be delivering this training for us on Thursday 1st December 2-3.30pm. The session will explain the need to effectively prepare for a CQC inspection and then remain prepared. The training discusses the areas that the CQC look at during an inspection, whilst offering practical advice for organisations to ensure they are CQC compliant. The last few places are available to book 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
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