Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 15th December 2023
Date sent: Friday 15 December 2023
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! New - The power of being able to listen
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Clinical News/Updates
- Bacteriology
- Important Changes to Age UK Somerset Toenail Cutting Service
- Inclisiran Update
- SFT Onward Referrals and Secondary Care Requests
- Somerset’s Bariatric Surgery Follow Up Guidance - - Southwest Immunisation Clinical Advice & Response Service (ICARS)
- Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- Role of Incentive Schemes in General Practice
- Visa and Sponsorship Licence - Training/Events
- Somerset LMC's 2024 Training Programme Sessions - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts- Assertiveness
- And Finally...
Clinical News/Updates
Bacteriology: The Microbiology department has recently taken delivery and installation of a new Laboratory automated bacteriology culture and incubator system – the Kiestra TMT. BD Kiestra™ Laboratory Automation Solutions Kiestra TMT provides AI culture reading programmes for screening Urine and MRSA specimens and allows for the batch reporting of negative culture results for Genital, Respiratory and wound specimen types. The Kiestra TMT system will also provide up to date antibiotic sensitivity interpretation using the latest European Antibiotic testing guidelines. It is hoped that all areas of bacteriology will be ‘live’ on the new system by the end of December this year.
Important Changes to Age UK Somerset Toenail Cutting Service: The agreement with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to provide Age UK Somerset toenail cutting services will end on 31st December 2023. You can now refer people who require simple toenail cutting (aged 55 and over) directly to Age UK Somerset or people can self-refer. Full details on how to do so are on the Age UK Somerset website via the link above and this is the link to the simple GP referral form GP referral. Please do not refer people to the Podiatry Service for anyone requiring the Age UK Somerset service. Anyone referred to the Podiatry Service requiring simple nail care and who meet the Age UK Somerset toenail cutting service criteria will be signposted to Age UK Somerset.
Inclisiran Update: We would like to highlight our previous steer that primary care should avoid prescribing Inclirisan until we have successfully negotiated a guaranteed long-term funding stream for this work with our ICB. There are still widespread concerns with the manner and speed with which NHS England have attempted to push a black triangle injectable into usage and there are still a number of questions, raised by both GPCE and the RCGP, on which NHS England has yet to provide a satisfactory response, as set out in our joint position statement with the RCGP.
Patients may have brought up this recent article Heart experts 'at war' with GPs over lifesaving jab that can help 300,000 Britons such as Mariella Frostrup by cutting 'bad' cholesterol by 50 per cent | Daily Mail Online. Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, GPC England Chair recently shared her views on this, which aligns with our steer. She summarises that ,’this article generously oversimplifies serious concerns and considerations within the medical profession with regards to patient care and that GP practices are under no obligation to prescribe or administer inclisiran without being given the tools to do so.’
SFT Onward Referrals and Secondary Care Requests: Please let SFT know when an onward referral has not been made (excluding A&E and radiology) and instead a request has been sent back asking primary care to action via Onwardreferrals@somersetft.nhs.uk. If you have been asked to chase up or action requests generated by SFT please report to screquests@somersetft.nhs.uk.
This reporting is not for direct patient care but to help identify teams and support them in setting up their own internal referral processes and systems. Your information will be used to help us change practice in the future.
Southwest Immunisation Clinical Advice & Response Service (ICARS): Following some recent vaccination discussions with practices, please note a reminder of the support and guidance offered by the South West Immunisation Clinical Advice Response Service (ICARS).
The aim of ICARS is to provide public health guidance to clinicians administering all vaccines commissioned under Section 7a or Covid-19 programmes, and to respond to clinical incidents as they arise in these programmes.
A new website page for ICARS has been developed which includes:
- Examples of what is in scope for the ICARS service
- How to report clinical incidents relating to Covid-19 or Section 7a vaccination programmes
- Learning from incidents and queries
- Healthcare worker guidance for specific immunisation programmes
For further information please visit NHS England — South West » Immunisation Clinical Advice & Response Service (ICARS) or, contact ICARS via email england.swicars@nhs.net. Alternatively, for further information on vaccination within the Somerset system contact Mike Kelly, Programme Lead Vaccinations, Mike.kelly3@nhs.net.
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
Role of Incentive Schemes in General Practice: This open consultation from the Department of Health is asking for feedback from the public and health professionals on the 2 main incentive schemes for General Practice QOF and the IIF, the detail can be found here (it’s a fairly quick read) and the open consultation to respond here. We are expecting a steer from GPC as this will feed into their contract negotiations. The consultation closes on the 7th March 2024, we will include further detail in future updates.
Visa and Sponsorship Licence: I have been a little quiet on this of late as many of our practices have now secured a licence, but having seen an article this week on the difficulty of many International Medical Graduates (IMGs) securing employment after qualifying, its worth reminding practices that don’t already have a licence to apply for one. The ICB will still fund this and we are able to help Practice Managers in the application process, it would be great if all our Somerset practices obtain this licence and we could potentially attract much needed GPs into the area, and keep the ones we have. Full detail on the application process is on our website, please do take a look it’s not as hard as you may think!
Training/Events
Somerset LMC's 2024 training programme sessions are now available to book via our website here. Topics include updates on Enhanced Services, QOF and Pensions along with Chaperone, Medical Terminology and Summarising Patient Records training. Places are limited so book early. This training is free for practices who are SGPET members.
And Finally...
Retirement of Dr Donal Hynes: After 35 years at the practice, Donal Hynes is finally hanging up his stethoscope and retiring on 31st December! As many of you will be aware he has been instrumental in helping to shape primary care over the last 4 decades at both a local and national level through his PEC Chair role at the PCT and Vice Chair of NHS Alliance and of course within the practice. Some of his key achievements include the establishment of the Bridgwater OOH GP co-op, setting up the musculo-skeletal interface service, helping to get Bridgwater and Minehead Hospitals rebuilt and the development of the Referral Management Centre.
The practice have a drop-in afternoon planned at Redgate Medical Centre on Friday 29th December (2-4 pm) for anyone who wants to wish him a happy retirement.
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
General Practice in Somerset Great Place Great Potential
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