Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 16th August 2024
Date sent: Friday 16 August 2024
Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here
- MD Soundbites! New this week - 'Colleagues keep you going'
- GPAS (General Practice Alert State)
- Collective Action and Referral Forms and Letters
- Clinical News/Updates
- Adding Flu Vaccination to the Prescription Page for Flu Clinics and Using the F12 Key
- CHIS Immunisation Decline Form - Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
- Are Your Pension Records Up To Date?
- GP in Somerset - Practice Blog/Filming a Day in the Life of a Practice
- Somerset AHP Faculty - Allied Health Professional Educator Survey
- UK Visa Sponsorship Licences (formerly known as Tier 2)
- Secure Forests CIC Ltd - Access to Professional Vocational Outdoor Training for Skilled Veterans and Blue Light Services Personnel - Events/Training
- The Business of General Practice with Simpkin Edwards Chartered Accountants - Resources...
- Safe Working in General Practice (BMA) This guidance is regularly updated with new items and suggestions
- Job Vacancies
- The Health & Self Care Podcast - this week.... Health & Care Needs of the Armed Forces Community
Collective Action and Referral Forms and Letters
Within the 10 suggested collective actions – ACTION 4 is being implemented by some GP practices. A summary of all the actions can be found here. Action 4 is summarised below
Stop rationing referrals, investigations and admissions​
- Refer, investigate or admit your patient for specialist care when it is clinically appropriate to do so. ​
- Refer via eRS for two-week wait (2WW) appointments, but outside of that write a professional referral letter in place of any locally imposed proformas or referral forms where this is preferable. It is not contractual to use a local referral form/proforma – quote our guidance and sample wording
This action means that GPs do not have to use referral forms, but GPC England recommends that GPs should take a pragmatic approach and continue to use referral forms so as not to risk any form of delay in the transfer of care.
HOWEVER, there is a professional duty to comply with GMC guidance. The GMC’s professional standards requires GPs to refer when it is necessary to do so in the best interests of the patient, and when doing so, to ensure a safe transfer of care. All necessary information needs to be contained within the referral letter, detailing past medical history, current medications and known drug allergies. Poor communication can lead to harm for the patient and can seriously impact the time taken for the clinician receiving the referral to offer advice and take the necessary action.
The LMC have been made aware that there have been cases where GPs have referred to secondary care colleagues asking them to see a patient with no relevant clinical information. This is not in accordance with GMC professional standards.
Collective active is a ‘slow burn’ and Somerset LMC are supportive of this campaign however, we must not compromise the safety of patients.
Clinical News/Updates
Adding Flu Vaccination to the Prescription Page for Flu Clinics and Using the F12 Key: The LMC has received some concerns regarding administration staff and non-prescribers using the F12 key to record flu vaccinations recently. As you are aware PGD guidance states that the nurse/registered clinician giving a vaccine must also record it and if a PGD cannot be used to administer a vaccine then a PSD should be written by a prescriber (for a non- registered person to administer). However, if the flu vaccine is given via National Protocol then the patient can be assessed and consented by a registrant but the administration and recording can be via a non-registered person. Therefore, recording can be undertaken by any member of the practice.
CHIS Immunisation Decline Form: This updated form can be used by practices and parents.
Information for GP Partners/Salaried/Locums/Practice Managers
Are Your Pension Records Up To Date?: The BMA’s Pensions Committee have launched a campaign encouraging you to take action to make sure that your pension records are accurate and up to date, so you can make informed decisions about your pension savings, retirement plans and the McCloud remedy. The BMA are aware that thousands of GPs in England have “missing years” of pensions data due to PCSE’s maladministration of pension records. They have been consistently highlighting the failures of PCSE (run by Capita), and the significant importance of them fixing this issue as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there has not been sufficient progress to resolve this issue, so we are now encouraging you to take action to get your pension records in order.
To support you the Pensions Committee have created detailed guidance including template letters to help you get your records up to date, raise a complaint and escalate further where appropriate. Guidance on getting your pension record up to date, for GPs in England - YouTube.
GP in Somerset - Practice Blog/Filming a Day in the Life of a Practice: We are looking to add to our blogs on our GP in Somerset website. We are looking for a day in the life of your own experience as a practice manager, a GP that has moved to Somerset to work here, pharmacy technician, receptionist, HCA, TNA or pharmacist for example. It would be nice to mention the role the LMC plays in supporting your role, such as any training provided, our representatives such as our nurse advisor and practice manager advisor. You could also include the work you do with your PCN and how you collaborate with other practices in your PCN. Here is a link to some of the blogs that are already posted up on the site for inspiration.
We are also looking to come along with our media team and film a day in the life at your practice if that is something you would be interested in. Please email the LMC office somersetlmc.office@nhs.net if you would be interested in writing a blog or have our media come along to your practice.
Somerset AHP Faculty - Allied Health Professional Educator Survey: There is a survey out for all AHPs in Somerset to complete. We are all educators and we are all learners, but do you know where you fit into this? Please use this link to complete this survey in under five minutes. The survey is available from 1-30th August, but don’t delay, complete it today and have your voice heard.
UK Visa Sponsorship Licences (formerly known as Tier 2): Does your practice have a visa sponsorship licence? Do you know what it is or why you might want one? Somerset LMC is aware we have quite a number of practices that currently have a UK Visa Sponsorship Licence however if you don’t please do listen to this podcast, it will persuade you to push this up your practice list of priorities as something to have in place! Listen now to find out why. Wessex LMCs joint CEO and GP Dr Laura Edwards talks with a panel around visa sponsorship and how it impacts international graduates particularly around the time of qualification and what actions practices may want to take to help with their recruitment. Read also the BMA guidance on Visa sponsorship for GP practices.
Events/Training
The Business of General Practice: Simpkins Edwards are team of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, they handle complexity while delivering the right solution to each client. Driven by a shared commitment to building a strong reputation, ensuring sustainability, and achieving commercial success. They have an event coming up in Exeter on 18th September at Sandy Park in Exeter, please follow this link to book a free place.
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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