Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 19th April 2024
Date sent: Friday 19 April 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! This week... We are now in dispute!
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Clinical News/Updates
- Child ADHD/ASD Referrals
- Death Certification Reform and the Introduction of Medical Examiners – Update
- GP Timetable
- Somerset Post Covid19 Assessment Service (PCAS)
- STARFISH Trial
- Surgical Admission Pathway at YDH and Musgrove
- Template Letter for Requests for Ongoing Referral from Private Provider
- The Connecting the Dots Meeting Wednesday 24th April 1-2pm - Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- Closure of Visa Support Services
- Somerset LMC Committee Locum GP Vacancy
- SGPET and LMC Websites Multi-Factor Authentication - Training/Events
- LMC Event - Single Assessment Framework, how to be CQC ready & how to not fall foul of the CQC - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcasts this week.... The Future of Dementia
Clinical News/Updates
Child ADHD/ASD Referrals: The LMC spoke with this team to understand the current wait time and support available. Autism and ADHD Pathway (somerset.gov.uk) pathway explains a support telephone line open to parents, carers, young people or practitioners from health, education or social care. Advice Line on 0303 033 3002 – open 9am to 12pm every Wednesday and Thursday which is supported by clinicians who will be online to provide a therapeutic space where your voice can be heard (initially you will be put through our admin team and transferred over).This link will also be added to Teamnet. Current wait for triage is 8 weeks and from there support continues until a formal assessment (20 months on average). There has been recent reports of teams including schools suggesting that it is quicker if a patient goes through Right to Choose, but the patient then loses the support on the pre-assessment pathway and local validation would be required for prescriptions which means that the time may be similar but there is less support.
Death Certification Reform and the Introduction of Medical Examiners – Update: A date has been confirmed for the changes coming into force – 9th September 2024. There has been no further information about the formalised guidance however, Maria Caulfield MP has stated that further communications are to include legislative guidelines and operational guidance. Expect further details to be released between now and September. This is another step forward in getting prepared for this being mandatory, at least now we have a date!
GP Timetable: We have updated the payment timetable with the current guidance, timelines and specifications. Some specifications are still awaited so please do check back as we will update as these become available.
Somerset Post Covid19 Assessment Service (PCAS): This service continues to accept referrals and is funded until March 2025.
STARFISH Trial: Somerset Foundation Trust research department are currently running a very exciting new trial (STARFISH) looking at sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) to try and determine the best treatment for patients. This has been a contentious issue for many years and treatment options are not without side effects. For primary care, this could have a huge impact as it should allow us to determine the extent oral steroids are of benefit (if any). Please can we ask Primary Care not to prescribe oral steroids for anybody you suspect has SSNHL and instead contact the on-call ENT team at Musgrove on bleep 7009. If you are able to do tuning fork tests prior to telephoning, this can be very helpful. There is a supporting poster for your waiting rooms and a copy of the trial document.
Surgical Admission Pathway at YDH and Musgrove: This current poster explains the new surgical referral process to YDH. The original offer of patient transport (as per the poster) is no longer possible and so that would need to be arranged through Somerset Primary link via an email referral. The LMC is aware of current variability in the call being answered and the pathway is under review. We will update you as we hear further developments.
This surgical referral pathway is in addition to the usual referral route via SPL for either YDH or MPH. We are also aware of recent cases which have not been accepted by SPL. These are under investigation, but we have had reassurance that direct referrals for same day admission to the surgeons can go via SPL directly. If there are any problems in the interim, please contact catherine.ievers1@nhs.net.
Template Letter for Requests for Ongoing Referral from Private Provider: With more patients seeking private treatment we have seen an increase in practices being asked to make an ongoing NHS referral, private providers are able to make NHS referrals without contacting the GP to do so, practices may find this template useful for such requests, it is also available on the website here.
The Connecting the Dots meeting is a chance to share projects / ideas and discuss areas that impact on both primary care and SFT. It is informal and you can come and listen in, bring an item you would like to raise, or just join in with the discussion if you feel it is relevant to you.
We are alternating the days between Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the next meeting is on Wednesday, 24 April 2024 at 1 pm to 2 pm. There will be an update on Order Comms from Barney Kyle and Andrea Trill will update on the SFT Interface project work that she is working on with Kathryn Patrick, Jeremy Smith and Jeremy Imms. Click here to join the meeting.
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
Closure of Visa Support Services: As part of the closure of NHS England’s Primary Care Workforce, the national Visa Support Service for GPs and GP practices currently provided by the team will also be closing, see see details here. Please note any outstanding visa reimbursement claims forms must be submitted by practices to the Primary Care Workforce Team via england.primarycareworkforce@nhs.net by no later than close of business on 30 April 2024.
Somerset LMC Committee Locum GP Vacancy: The LMC is the only elected representative body of local GP opinion and exists to represent, support and advise GPs and General Practice as a whole. While we have elected GP members, we also have a further seat solely for Locums. As a result of our most recent Locum GP representative standing down, we now have a vacancy to fill. The full committee meet every other month on a Thursday at Taunton Racecourse, meeting attendance is funded. If you would be interested to find out more about the LMC and what this role involves please email jill.hellens@nhs.net.
SGPET and LMC Websites Multi-Factor Authentication: The provider of both our websites currently FourteenFish have now introduced Multi-Factor Authentication, this will mean when logging into our websites a further step will be required. This seems to be quite simple with varied options of text/call/app notifications, however if you do experience any problems, you can contact FourteenFish here.
Training/Events
LMC Event - Single Assessment Framework, how to be CQC ready & how to not fall foul of the CQC: Join us for this workshop on Tuesday 14 May 2024 at Taunton Racecourse 09:00 - 15:15. The speakers are Tracy Green (TAG Business Solutions) & Yvonne Vigar (Astara Consulting). Designed specifically for Somerset practice managers and a lead GP, this workshop aims to provide you with valuable insights into the Single Assessment Framework. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the framework's key elements and learn how to effectively implement and maintain these within your practice. Learn from recent inspections and identify the key areas to really focus on to make sure you are CQC FIT.
During this interactive workshop, you'll have the opportunity to network, share experiences, and discuss best practices. Don't miss out on this valuable learning opportunity. Book here to secure your spot. We recommend the practice manager and one lead GP attends.
Kind regards
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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