Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 31st May 2024
Date sent: Friday 31 May 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites!
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Clinical News/Updates
- Closure of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust
- Infected Blood Inquiry – Hepatitis C Testing - Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- GPC Locum Survey
- IF NOT NOW.... WHEN? Protect Your Practices, To Protect Your Patients. GPC England Officer Team Roadshow Webinar 20th June - Training/Events
- GP Dermoscopy Training
- Guidance and Roadmap Requirements Q&A for Employers of ARRS Funded Paramedics - Information/Support Session for Somerset Practice Managers/PCN Managers 4th June via Microsoft Teams - Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- Top Tips - click here
- National Funding Framework (NFF)
Clinical News/Updates
Infected Blood Inquiry – Hepatitis C Testing: Although it is likely that the majority of people directly affected by infected blood have now been identified and started appropriate treatment, there may be people who have not yet been identified, particularly where they are living with asymptomatic Hepatitis C. People who had blood transfusions might not have considered these risks before or sought testing.
The Inquiry report recommends that people who received blood transfusions up until 1996 should be offered a blood test for Hepatitis C if they have not been tested before (primary care teams may have noticed that previous guidance set the date as before September 1991).
Patients can be tested in primary care, where GPs can arrange tests for Hepatitis C (and HIV, Hepatitis B where clinically appropriate). They can also be directed to the online service for at-home Hepatitis C self-testing kits for those that are 18 and over and have an address in England. Any positive results from at-home testing are dealt with by local Operational Delivery Networks and passed to specialist hepatology teams, who arrange to contact the patient, notify them of their results and manage their care and treatment.
Further resources for Hepatitis C care, including a Primary Care Toolkit are available via Hep C U Later. In order to find people who are undiagnosed, the report also recommends if a new patient registers at a GP and had a transfusion before 1996 they should be offered a precautionary blood test if they have not already been tested.
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
GPC Locum Survey: More & more GP locums are facing difficulties obtaining work The BMA needs data to raise awareness and lobby on this issue through the election period. We need locums to tell us their experiences. Please ask your locum groups to complete this survey and share with their locum colleagues. The survey closes midnight 9th June. All responses anonymised.
IF NOT NOW.... WHEN? Protect Your Practices, To Protect Your Patients. GPC England Officer Team Roadshow Webinar 20th June 2024 19.00-21.00: Join the national GPC England team to hear about the GP campaign, understand the statutory ballot, and ask questions. They will be presenting the GPC England manifesto and sharing the BMA GP Practice Survival Toolkit to Protect your Practice, Protect your Patients. Register here.
Training/Events
GP Dermoscopy Training: Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon & Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance has funded, via BSW, Dermoscopy Training provided by Dr Chin Whybrew, a GP in Cheltenham with a passion for primary care dermatology, and dermoscopy in particular. If you are interested you can sign up via the link in this document.
Guidance and Roadmap Requirements Q&A for Employers of ARRS Funded Paramedics - Information/Support Session for Somerset Practice Managers/PCN Managers 4th June via Microsoft Teams: A session hosted jointly by Somerset LMC, Somerset ICB and the Primary Care Academy. Catherine Hayden (LMC AHP lead), Sarah Moore (ICB ARRS Lead) and Lily Dixon (SW regional FCP Lead) will lead employers or prospective employers through the DES requirements and NHS England Roadmap to Practice requirements for ARRS funded paramedics. Book your place here.
Top Tips
National Funding Framework (NFF) – Top Tip: Population Health Hypertension. QI plans deadline is 15 July. Implement QI plans from 1st September 2024 to enable 3 months of implementation. Evaluate QI project during January/February 2025.
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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