Menu Home Search

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 28th October 2016

Date sent: Friday 28 October 2016

All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers                                          This and Previous updates can be found here

EMIS Vewer Project Already Showing Benefits After just a week of live use, urgent and emergency care providers are already reporting  significant benefits from being able to view GP EMIS  records when patients present to them.  About 10% of emergency admissions to TST and YDH triggered  a request to view the GP notes in the week ending Sunday 23rd October, and we’ve been sent two anecdotes which illustrate  the value  of being able to see the primary care record:

“A patient admitted to a local trust needed  trauma surgery but was noted to have a heart murmur. The patient  couldn't recall the details but said they'd had investigation in the past though there  was nothing in the hospital notes. The concern was that an  aortic stenosis  would  rule out certain anaesthetic techniques and make the required procedure high risks The patient gave me permission to access their GP record which contained the results of an echocardiogram, ruling out aortic stenosis.

Without this information the admitting team  would either have had to delay the urgent surgery to await an echo or proceed with the anaesthetic assuming that the patient had aortic stenosis,  and  so would need  invasive monitoring and a critical care bed post op.”

“A lady, who was being seen in Cardiac Investigations, was noted to have a facial weakness and was advised to come to ED. When assessed in ED she mentioned that this was a longstanding problem and she was awaiting a Neurology Outpatient appointment. Looking at the correspondence on Web EMIS gave me reassurance that this issue was being dealt with so she didn’t in fact require any input or investigation in the ED, and could be rapidly and safely discharged.”  

Flu Immunisation and Competition between GP Practices and Community PharmaciesThe introduction by NHSE of a competitive market for flu immunisation has led to many practices improving access to immunisations for eligible patients, but it has also triggered some disagreements between local contractors.  The GMC and the GPC have  recently issued a joint letter which includes the following:

Doctors and pharmacy professionals must work in partnership with patients ,with each other, and as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality care to patients.

Care of patients must always be the first priority and access to services such as flu vaccinations should not be affected by commercial interests. pharmacy professionals and doctors must support informed decision making by patients. This includes

Being open and honest at all times about where patients can receive NHS services, for example where their medicines are dispensed and flu vaccinations are given.

Not allowing any interests they have, financial or otherwise, to affect the way they treat, refer or commission services for patients.

Being open and honest about any potential conflicts of interest –this is vital to make sure that the trust and confidence patients have in doctors and pharmacy professionals is maintained.

Ensuring that the information published when advertising service sis factual and does not exploit patients’ vulnerability or lack of medical knowledge.

For the most part relationships between GP practices and pharmacies  in Somerset are very good, and the LMC and LPC are keen to work together to maintain and  improve these. If either a GP practice or a Community Pharmacy believes that another contractor has overstepped the mark or is behaving unfairly,  the LMC and LPC have agreed to investigate, and all  the few minor episodes that have been brought to our attention have all been resolved locally.

In the long term we do not believe that competition is the best way to ensure  maximum vaccine uptake, and a proposal by Somerset LMC and LPC for a pilot of a supplementary collaborative contract to incentivise joint working to increase existing uptake is being considered by the NHSE local office.

In the meantime. The first figures on uptake suggest that we are nearly 10% ahead on last year in the adult target groups which suggests that we should be able to achieve record coverage this year.  There has been some concern that non-eligible patients may be receiving NHS immunisation from a pharmacy, but if so it is because the patient is  making an incorrect declaration at the time as the pharmacist relies on the patient to indicate which of the eligible group he or she falls in to.  We suspect that a fair proportion of these patients are  carers in one capacity or another, but if  practices notice a large number of patients being immunised who do not  seem to fit into any  eligible group, please let us know.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Offers 2017-18 The LMC Buying Groups Federation has concluded negotiations with flu vaccine companies for the 2017-18 season and can now announce that their joint first preferred suppliers are Pfizer and MASTA. The second preferred supplier is Mylan.

Advertising in the BMJ If practices do take up the BMJ offer for Somerset we now have a dedicated brand area for adverts which links to the media campaign, "General practice in Somerset Great Place Great potential" link

Vacancy for a Primary Care Change Manager in Somerset  Nationally the General Practice Forward View has set out a clear programme for change. As part of this programme, NHS England has provided funding for Primary Care Change Managers across the South West.

Somerset LMC hosts the role for Somerset and we have an opportunity for a Change Manager. This role is for 12 months initially but may be extended. This is a self-employed role with funding available for 3 days per week at £300 per day including expenses.

If you are interested, please send a brief email outlining your experience and skills to  lmcoffice@somersetlmc.nhs.uk by 5pm on Friday 4 November. Interviews will be arranged for early November. Job Description

Surveys        

Kind Regards

Jill

Jill Hellens

Executive Director

Somerset LMC

TEL: 01823 331428

Fax:01823 338561

www.somersetlmc.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter

Download the App

General Practice In Somerset Great Place Great Potential

 

Related guidance and emails...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 9th October 2015

All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here DSQS Update for dispensing Practices...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 30th July 2021

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here Recording overseas...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 22nd March 2024

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here MD Soundbites! GPAS (General...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 13th October 2017

All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here and on our App "Lets Dance" the latest Blog...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 11th November 2022

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here MD Soundbites!! (Access to Health...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 5th July 2019

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here Waxing Lyrical the latest blog...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 20th October 2017

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here PREVENT Training Transgender...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 14th December 2018

Sent to all Somerset GPs, Practice Managers and Lead Nurses This and previous updates are available here A Tale of Two...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 11th Septemer 2020

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here SGPET weekly update can be found...

Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 27th September 2019

Sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates are available here The Rime of the Ancient Physician...