Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 23rd February 2024
Date sent: Friday 23 February 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! New this week... Contracts and working within them
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Clinical News/Updates
- LMC Clinical Workstreams Survey
- Postnatal Checks and Perinatal Pelvic Health Service
- Referring to Paediatrics
- Sperm Pots - Training/Events
- Leadership Education Opportunity for Lead Practice and PCN Nurses
- Safe Working - Online Discussion Group with GPC Representative Dr Paul Hynam 14th March 1-2pm - Surveys
- Paediatric Bloods in Musgrove Park Hospital
- Research Study about Prescribing for Alzheimers - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts - this week Sloppy Slippers
Clinical News/Updates
LMC Clinical Workstreams Survey: As some of you will be aware, Somerset LMC have been leading programmes of work with the ICB and secondary care on numerous referral pathways. There have been agreed outcomes but there has been some difficulty seeing implementation of them. These difficulties seem to be more notable of late with current system pressures. we have identified 4 areas of particular concern and we would be grateful if practices could answer this short survey to help inform this process. The survey will close on the 1st March at Noon.
Postnatal Checks and Perinatal Pelvic Health Service: The LMC met with the perinatal pelvic health team and discussed the new NICE guidance NHS England » GP six to eight week maternal postnatal consultation – what good looks like guidance. They would to encourage referrals to their service with anyone who has relevant symptoms, and a reminder of the referral criteria can be found on Teamnet. There has been recognition that not all third and fourth degree tears have been directly referred from SFT to the physio prior to maternity discharge. We are pleased to hear that this issue has been identified and addressed.
Referring to Paediatrics: If you are referring to paediatrics and are not certain if the referral is genuinely urgent then our consultant colleagues are happy to help. They offer Consultant Connect by calling 01823 240127. Our colleagues do understand the pressures we are facing as patients wait for routine appointments, but at the moment there are a large number of urgent referrals that are being sent that are not clinically urgent. The impact is that cases that are appropriately routine that do need a specialist opinion in a timely manner are waiting longer. We are all managing more and more. We all want to do what is right for the child that we see, get them seen in the right place, by the right team, in the right time. If you are not certain of the urgency then consider asking a more experienced colleague or trying the Consultant and Connect number. Our MD's own experience of talking to our Paediatric Consultants has been excellent and really helpful.
Sperm Pots: The lab have recently seen an increase in andrology patients being given the wrong pots or being told that the surgery are not able to provide them, leaving a patient having to buy a pot online. These sample containers can be ordered by e mailing spsstores@somersetft.nhs.uk the full guide here.
Training/Events
Leadership Education Opportunity for Lead Practice and PCN Nurses: Somerset Training Hub has funding available to support Lead Practice and PCN Nurses who are keen to develop their leadership ability and expand their skills to support the recruitment/retention of nurses within their practice/PCN. Practice Nurses aspiring to a leadership role can also apply for funds.
This suite of courses is available to choose from. As well as providing funds to pay for the course fees in full, additional funds will be paid to cover some overtime or backfill costs. The total amount that will be reimbursed to the practice is included on the spreadsheet. Funds will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
The Request Form should be completed in full (including practice bank account details) and submitted to somersetlmc.sth.office@nhs.net to request funding. Practices will be responsible for booking and paying for the courses requested. It is recommended to wait until funding is confirmed before booking the course. Practices must respond to a short questionnaire in 6-12 months regarding the use of the funds.
Closing date for applications will be 30th April 2024 or earlier if all funds available are committed prior to this date.
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 the final online update session to explore the practical implications of delivering a safe service. This one hour session will be fully interactive and will provide a safe space to discuss the pros and cons of the various measures being proposed. It will not be recorded. There will be a maximum of 20 participants at the session and is for Somerset GPs and practice managers only.
Date: Wednesday 14th March 13.00-14.00 (book online).
Surveys
Paediatric Bloods in Musgrove Park Hospital: The team would welcome your feedback via this brief survey to support the development of changes within the paediatric phlebotomy service.
Research Study about Prescribing for Alzheimers: Prescribing Memantine in General Practice in England.
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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