Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 5th January 2024
Date sent: Friday 5 January 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites!
- Clinical News/Updates
- Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures
- The Community Pharmacy BP Case Finding Service - Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- Somerset New to Practice General Practice Fellowship Programme for Newly Qualified GPs - Training/Events
- Carol Hobbs' Retirement Evening 12th January - Resources
- Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts - this week Treating Depression
Clinical News/Updates
Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures: This link provides the new safeguarding links, including the reinstatement of the Bruising in Babies and Children (trixonline.co.uk) guidance. The latest June 2023 Effective Support for Children and Families in Somerset - Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership outline the referral processes.
If additional advice is required before referring a patient, a senior social worker is available through the Advice line - 0300 123 307. The ICB SG team are always happy to support somicb.safeguardingandcla@nhs.net. Under the revised child protection medical process, clinicians can also ring and speak to the Named Doctor for advice if they are unclear if there could be a medical explanation for a child’s presentation (referral pathway for child protection medical). The current Primary Care Safeguarding codes are here and a briefing on managing safeguarding and patient access is available here.
The Community Pharmacy BP Case Finding Service: The nationally agreed and published service specification for the pharmacy BP case-finding service directs pharmacists to ‘advise patients to see their GP’ to assess for organ damage, wider CVD risk and consideration for treatment initiation within the following timeframes:
- within 3 weeks if they have a BP reading:
- between 140/90mmg Hg and 179/119mmHg and have declined ABPM
- between 135/85mmHg and 149/94mmHg following ABPM
- within 7 days with a reading between 150/95mmHg and 169/114mmHg following ABPM
- on the same day if they have a reading:
- 180/120mmHg or above and have declined ABPM
- 170/115mmHg or above following ABPM
- Below 90/60mmHg and symptomatic
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
Somerset New to Practice General Practice Fellowship Programme for Newly Qualified GPs: Are you or do you know a GP who is newly qualified and is/will be working in Somerset? New eligibility includes doctors who have completed the International Induction Programme (IIP) in the last 12 months. If so, this funded fellowship programme may be of interest. It is a 2 year programme designed to provide personalised support to newly qualified GPs to help gain confidence and to develop enjoyable, fulfilling and sustainable careers in general practice. It is for those GPs in their first year of qualifying, but can be extended for certain circumstances such as maternity leave. A new eligibility has been recently announced including doctors who have completed the International Induction Programme (IIP) within the last 12 months. NHSEI is aiming for a 100% uptake and nearly all of our Somerset GPs have joined. We started on April 21 and have had up to 72 fellows, so you may already have one of our fellows working in your practice! We have had great feedback, and one of the highlights is the benefit of the mentoring, appreciation of paid time (£10,000 pro rata per annum) to undertake chosen CPD or interests and the online monthly Thursday lunchtime 30-minute session with various speakers. Example topics include: knowing about appraisals; PCN overview; lifestyle medicine; managing difficult blood results on a Friday afternoon and time management. This programme continues to evolve according to the needs and aspirations of our fellows. Our next cohort will start in March 24 and the closing date is 12th February 2024. As NHSE have not confirmed if the New to Practice will enable new Registrations beyond March 24, please register your interest early. See programme, application form and needs analysis for more information. If you would like to find out more or apply, please contact Dr Catherine Ievers catherine.ievers1@nhs.net.
Training/Events
Reminder: You will be aware that Carol Hobbs retired from her role as Programme Director for Somerset Training Hub at the end of November 2023, after a long career in secondary and primary care. We are holding a celebration for Carol at Taunton Racecourse (Owners & Trainers room) on Friday 12th January 2024 between 6.30pm and 9.30pm. There will be fizz and food, so please do drop in or spend the evening and celebrate with Carol and other colleagues. Please contact the office at lmc.office@nhs.net if you wish to attend. This link will open an e-card if you would like to send a message to Carol, if you know someone who would like to sign the card please forward onto them. If you would like to contribute towards a gift for Carol please contact Mandy at the LMC on amason1@nhs.net. We hope you will be able to join us.
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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