Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 2nd June 2017
Date sent: Friday 2 June 2017
All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here
- Always Record Relevant Clinical Observations Numerically
- IR35 message from the Somerset Locum Agency
- Indemnity – ARE YOU PROPERLY COVERED?
- Capita and the NHS Pension Fiasco-what is going on Part 3
- Practice information support service LMC/SPH
- Somerset Change Manager
- Glastonbury Festival
- Update on Vaccine availability (reminder to practices that the LMC pays membership for Travax for all practices, if you need a log in please contact the LMC Office )
- Vaccine Update 263 May 2017
Always Record Relevant Clinical Observations Numerically Advice from the SW GP Performance Advisory Group it's never a mistake to record basic clinical observations when a patient with potentially serious illness consults, especially if he or she is unfamiliar to you. Do make sure that you give the numerical value or a specific comment rather than just recording “normal” as this is such a nebulous term and the acceptable range may be very different in different circumstances. “Temperature 37.8” is better than “Temperature normal”, and if you are really obsessional “Aural temperature 37.8” is probably better still. Similarly, “colour normal” is much less helpful than “not cyanosed “ or “not clinically anaemic” which at least says what you were thinking about.
IR35 Message from the Somerset Locum Agency All locums supplied by Somerset GP Locums Ltd have signed an agreement which protect you the surgeries and the locums against any form or employment. Each locum is self employed and recognised by the Inland Revenue as such.
Locums who have formed their own Limited Company and working through ourselves have in addition to the agreement above also provided me with a recognised exemption certificate form the Inland revenue, showing that "the intermediaries legislation" does not apply to their engagements with you. If you require a copy of this certificate we are happy to send it to you. Update on IR35 from BMA
Indemnity – ARE YOU PROPERLY COVERED? As the national picture for clinical indemnity and medical negligence insurance gets more complicated and more expensive, it is essential to make sure that you inform your provider in advance of all proposed changes to practice configuration, working hours and skill mix.
The MDOs are gradually moving away from their traditional personal indemnity model towards provision that recognises different categories of risk and team working, they still offer what is basically doctor-based, individual protection. But whereas traditionally GPs were indemnified to do whatever GPs did, more sophisticated risk profiling means that policy prices will vary according to the number of sessions worked, whether any of these are out of hours, how much work is delegated to non-medical clinicians, and so on. The LMC was alarmed to hear recently that one MDO only indemnifies nurse practitioners seeing registered patients and not temporary residents who were perceived to have riskier consultations.
There is a lot going on nationally, regionally and locally to try and sort out some of the problems, but in the meantime you need to make sure that your MDO knows exactly how your practice works. We are aware that in some practices GPs are members of more than one MDO, but the LMC recommends that all practices should now be considering a practice based policy, and there are potentially significant benefits if the whole of a locality or federation is with one provider.
We are also aware that subscription rates can vary widely between providers for what appears to be the same cover, and that a previous claim may add significantly to premiums. If you are having problems with obtaining affordable indemnity or insurance, please contact the LMC office
Practice information support service LMC/SPH
- The GP timetable and guide has recently been updated with PCIS Calculations find both here
- The Team are currently working on producing an Emis protocol to score all the frailty, the Clinical template will include what is required for the GP contract and SPQS, Somerset Clinical communications document and Frailty escalation plan, this will self populate from the clinical template. The Emis protocol will Link all 3 and a guide will be produced on how to use. This should be ready in the next couple of weeks.
- Referral Leaflet: we have produced a leaflet that you may wish to print and give to patients or post on your websites download here
Somerset Change Manager NHSE provided funding for a number of Change Managers to work across the South West to support practices in making changes, adopting different ways of working, working collaboratively or implementing other sustainable solutions. Laura Ridout is the change Manager for Somerset, this is a free resource for practices, for some examples of the work on offer please see here
Glastonbury Festival: The GP in Somerset Campaign would like to hear from GPs that will be working at the festival site this year for a potential feature on the social channels. So if you are going and would be happy to do this please drop Jess a line at jess@jdhcommunications.uk
Kind Regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
TEL: 01823 331428
Fax:01823 338561
General Practice In Somerset Great Place Great Potential
