Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 17th November 2023
Date sent: Friday 17 November 2023
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! New today 'Please be flexible'
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Patient Access to Records
- News from the GPC Chairman Katie Bramall-Stainer
- Accelerated Access
- Physician Associates
- GPC England Committee Pages
- GPCE Newsletter
- Sessional Newsletter - High Risk Child Protection Concerns – NO EHA Form Required!
- CSU Childhood Imms Service
- Insomnia Referral Changes
- Safe Working - Online Discussion Group with GPC Representative Dr Paul Hynam
- And Finally...
- Medical Member in the Social Entitlement Chamber (SEC) - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts - new this week Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
Patient Access to Records: The LMC would like to remind all practices that have permitted a bulk transfer of access to records MUST have evidence of the DPIA that they completed. The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18) states that before a Data Controller can introduce any new processing, they must complete a DPIA, to gauge to what extent the arrangement would put the data or data subjects at risk.
High Risk Child Protection Concerns – NO EHA Form Required!: The ICB released communication that GPs can now telephone through a referral to Somerset Direct on 0300 123 2224 without submitting an Early Help Assessment (EHA) form for Level 4 / Acute Needs.
For high risk child protection concerns only (Level 4/Acute Needs - please see Effective Support for Children and Families guidance for further support. This process has been agreed for three months due to winter pressures.
If you wish to share your thoughts on EHA forms please complete this survey as your feedback really helps share further change.
CSU Childhood Imms Service are currently working on a project looking to implement a text messaging service for scheduling childhood imms. CHIS currently send 100% of childhood immunisation invite and reminders via letter, the intention is to move to a text-first approach where CHIS hold a valid, UK mobile phone number on record. This text-first approach does not propose to send 100% of communications digitally, instead CHIS plan to use a mixed-methods approach (combining texts and letters). It is hoped that by flexibly using two methods of communication, more messages will be successfully received by families. In support of this approach, NICE recommends contacting people for immunisations using a variety of methods, including by text message and letter.
They are seeking responses to a short 5-minute survey from the full spectrum of parents/carers, healthcare professionals and others who work with young families, to understand their views about the potential use of text messages for childhood vaccination invitations.
They are keen to hear from those who may not engage regularly with health services or who may face difficulties with digital communication, alongside others.
This promotional poster includes a link and QR code to the survey, also please share this direct survey link. This survey will close on January 22nd 2024.
Insomnia Referral Changes: In line with NICE Guidelines for Insomnia GP Practices have access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) via referral/ self-refer to Somerset Foundation Trust (SFT) Talking Therapies who assess if they can refer to Silver Cloud’s online programme Space from Insomnia and Sleep Issues. The contract for Sleepstation CBT-I contract will end 19/12/23, after which they cannot take on new referrals. Insomnia (Remedy BNSSG ICB) provides an additional useful link for additional advice.
Safe Working - Online Discussion Group with GPC Representative Dr Paul Hynam: Following recent updates to the BMA’s Safe Working Guidance, we will be running a series of online update sessions to explore the practical implications of delivering a safe service. These one hour sessions will be fully interactive and will provide a safe space to discuss the pros and cons of the various measures being proposed. They will not be recorded. There will be a maximum of 20 participants per session. For Somerset GPs and practice managers only.
Dates:
Wednesday 7th December 13.00-14.00 (book online)
Thursday 14th December 19.00-20.00 (book online)
And Finally...
Medical Member in the Social Entitlement Chamber (SEC): Are you a retired GP or nearing retirement? If so you may be interested in becoming a Medical Member of the Social Entitlement Chamber. They are running a recruitment campaign in December and have arranged an online seminar to inform interested members about the service on the 27th November 5-6pm, further detail here and if you would like to discuss with a local retired GP who sits on the tribunals please do call Dr John Scanlon on 01823 412796.
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.
