Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 9th June 2023
Date sent: Friday 9 June 2023
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites!
- Expediting Delayed Ambulances
- NHS CHC Fast Track
- Update to COVID Antivirals
- Adult ADHD Referrals
- Semaglutide (Wegovy)
- GP in Somerset
- Nurse Vacancies/Recruitment
- "Oiling the Wheels": A GP Locum Event
- Safe Working in General Practice (BMA)
- Job Vacancies
Expediting Delayed Ambulances: Over the past 8 weeks SWAST have adopted a new way of working. Clinicians are now in place to triage ALL category 3s and some 2s calls. If you have a clinical reason to expedite the call due to a delay in ambulance arrival, SWAST advice that expedition is best if a primary care clinician calls back through to 999 as they are then able to speak with a SWAST clinician who can upgrade the call on clinical grounds. We hear of a new category, which is between a 1 and 2 (a 2-1). Given these changes, please ensure that a clinician’s telephone number is given in case further information is required for triage. Formal comms from SWAST will follow in due course.
From NHS CHC Fast Track Team: We respectfully ask GPs when completing Section 1 of NHS Somerset’s Fast Track tool that they give as much information as possible to evidence that the patient may be entering a terminal phase and the details of likely progression. Having this information greatly helps a decision to be reached more quickly. If possible please email the completed Section 1 tool to the District Nursing Hub for the community nurses to submit Section 1 and Section 2 together to support quicker decisions for our End of Life patients.
If you require further advice or would like some training on completing FTCHC applications please do not hesitate to contact the CHC Fast Track team (01935 385233) or email somicb.chc.fasttracks@nhs.net.
Update to COVID Antivirals: The LMC is awaiting the outcome of national discussions between the GPC and NHSE. Our current steer endorsed by the GPC remains that this is NOT core GMS work. We have not agreed with primary care adopting the new Covid antiviral pathway sent out by the Medicine Management team. We are also aware that some areas have commissioned local providers to deliver this service. We, therefore, advise that there is NO CHANGE to the current management of these patients. Please continue to refer all patients to 111/119 When to call 119 - NHS (www.nhs.uk) for Covid antivirals and we will update you all as soon as we have confirmation of the national recommendations to guide our local advice.
Adult ADHD Referrals: The LMC have been in negotiation with the ADHD team with regard to the referral pathway in May 23. The service only requires an informed referral letter, and the ADHD team will be responsible for sending out the patient questionnaire to the patient. Over the past week, we have had a number of reports that the team have been rejecting referrals if not on the old ADHD referral form alongside a patient questionnaire. This is not required and so please resend your letter. We have had reassurance that ALL members of the ADHD service are now aware of this change to avoid this happening in the future. The ADHD service is reporting that some referrals are being sent with no information other than, ‘This patient has ADHD’ which is making triage extremely difficult. Please ensure that as much information as possible is included on the referral letter, alongside the usual PMH and DH.
Semaglutide (Wegovy): There may be an increase in requests for the ‘skinny jab’ given recent widespread public news about the £40 million pilots aimed at exploring these medications. The most recent national update is that it won’t actually be available in the UK until at least early 2024 at the earliest.
GP in Somerset: The next video in our series behind the scenes looking at life inside and outside GP Surgeries in Somerset. Please do share on practice social media channels and websites. Our thanks to the practices that participated in the filming, if you would like to be featured we will be doing further filming in the coming months and are always looking for willing volunteers, so do get in touch.
Nurse Vacancies/Recruitment: In the past, general practice was seen as something nurses did after starting their career in a hospital. This is no longer the case. Many newly qualified nurses are now going straight into general practice where they are able to take advantage of increasing opportunities to specialise in particular conditions, and to build a varied career.
Most pre-registration students find a job at the end of their second year of training. This means there are very few who qualify without a job to go to.
Although some students get exposure to primary care within their training, not all get the experience but may still be interested in working in general practice.
In Somerset we have regular contact from several universities who have students looking for jobs. More recently we have seen a reduction in nurse vacancy posts on our LMC website. Therefore, students are unsure how to start their careers and contact the training hub for advice. We can introduce students to practices and support informal visits/interviews.
Somerset Training Hub offers the GPN Fellowship Programme to support all new to practice nurses. To ensure we don't lose nurses to secondary care or other providers it is vital that general practice focusses on nurse workforce planning.
If you have a current vacancy or know you will have a vacancy in 6, 12-18 months' time, please do contact the LMC office as we can help with recruitment.
"Oiling the Wheels": A GP Locum Event: Life as a GP locum can be a bit of a grind, particularly if you’re a GP locum without regular access to practice support. This FREE, face-to-face event, organised by Dr Andrew Hunter (GP Retention Fellow, BNSSG Training Hub), will offer a helping hand to all GP locums - or GPs interested in "locuming" - in BNSSG. Running all day on Wednesday 5th July at Engineers House (BS8 3NB), you will learn about the latest training and education comings-and-goings For more information, and to register your interest see here. This event is open to GP locums at any and all career stages. The first half of the day will relate to "nuts n' bolts" and the second half to well-being; if you're an experienced GP locum and don't feel the second half will be of much to use to you, no worries! You're more than welcome to enjoy a fantastic lunch buffet and then head out. FREE lunch, FREE parking, and attendance certificates will all be available.
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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