Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 2nd June 2023
Date sent: Friday 2 June 2023
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites!
- EMIS Reverses Panic Button Decision
- OpenSAFELY
- Weight Management
- Veteran Friendly GP Practice Accreditation
- Dermatology GPwER – great opportunity!
- Adrian Poole, HR & Employment Law Services
- Safe Working in General Practice (BMA)
- Job Vacancies
EMIS Reverses Panic Button Decision: BMA lobbying has helped GP practices to retain the EMIS panic button, which is used in emergency situations, as EMIS has decided that the EMIS panic button will continue to be available for practices who wish to keep it until Friday 29th September. EMIS have released an update on 25 May in which the following was released, We have confirmed a date for when the Panic Button will be removed as standard from EMIS Web, and also agreed an approach for users who have not yet implemented an alternative solution.
- We will be removing the Panic Button as standard from EMIS Web on Friday 29th September 2023. From this date, the Panic Button icon and functionality will be removed unless we receive specific instruction from customers (see below).
- Organisations can request that the Panic Button in EMIS Web remains available for their organisations beyond Friday 29th September 2023. As part of this request, you will be required to acknowledge and accept responsibility for the known risks and limitations associated with the functionality.
Organisations who request the Panic Button to remain available, will be able to request that it is subsequently disabled at any time. We will not accept requests for the functionality to be reactivated once it has been disabled.
The number one priority is ensuring patient safety, which is why changes to the EMIS system have an impact. Details on how to make this request will be released by mid-June.
OpenSAFELY: For those that may not be aware OpenSAFELY was created with public and charitable funding for the benefit of population health related to Covid-19. It is a highly secure, transparent, open-source software platform for analysis of electronic health records data. All platform activity is publicly logged. All software for data management and analysis is shared, automatically and openly, for scientific review and efficient re-use. If you are interested in some if the research outputs here is the link.
In recent months GPCE’s Digital Transformation Policy Group, along with the Joint GP IT Committee, have been providing scrutiny to the forthcoming Data Provision Notice (to be sent under the COVID- 19 Directions from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) that will allow OpenSAFELY to continue to operate as a Trusted Research Environment (TRE) once its Control of Patient Information (OPI) permission expires on 1 July 2023. It has been a complex process with regard to information governance. The proposal speech to Motion 12 at the conference of England LMC representatives last November referenced the OpenSAFELY TRE as one that has the support of the profession. This remains the case. Practices will not need to do anything and formal communication from NHS England explaining the evolving legal basis for operation will be coming soon.
Weight Management: Further to the information shared in last week’s update, we have been given a further link to the (free) Metabolic Health 28 Day Programme www.healthtolife.org which is getting amazing results.
Veteran Friendly GP Practice Accreditation: Have you thought about becoming a ‘veteran friendly GP accredited practice’? The LMC promoted this in November 2022, see here. The ICB are exploring options as to how they can work with agencies in a collaborative and supportive manner for our armed forces community and are sending separate updates. The LMC will support practices that are considering becoming accredited to help them provide the support our veterans need. The podcast here lasts 15mins and is well worth a listen. Do you have a clinician in your practice that has a specific interest – if you do, here is the link to start the process. This is not meant to be challenging but definitely a programme that can affect positive change.
Dermatology GPwER – great opportunity!: You may recall some time ago, seeing a request from the then CCG for expressions of interest from GPs to be trained up as GPwER in the new, integrated Somerset Dermatology service. Many of you put your names forward. The new ICB is formally advertising these 16 new roles and would welcome applications for the upcoming training opportunities, deadline 17:00 Monday 19th June. Please follow this link for sight of the job description, and details of the application and interview process.
Adrian Poole, HR & Employment Law Services: We are aware that some practices have been enquiring of the support available from Adrian Poole since leaving Porter Dodson. As many of you know Adrian has been supporting the LMC and its members for many years in respect of HR, employment and regulatory matters. He has set up on his own and was until 1st June 2023 restricted by his previous firm. He is now free to answer enquiries and support practices, whatever the potential issue and regardless of any previous relationship a practice may have had with Porter Dodson. His mobile is 07419285214 and he can be contacted at adrian@apers.co.uk. His website, which sets out his full range of services, is www.apers.co.uk. He says he is happy to have a non-obligation chat with any practice requiring his support or guidance - which now includes management support and assistance with complaints. There are of course other providers available and it is entirely up to practices who they choose to use in respect of any particular issue.
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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