Somerset Weekly Update Friday 1st September 2017
Date sent: Friday 1 September 2017
All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers This and previous updates can be found here
- The Birds and Bees- Latest Blog from LMC Chairman Nick Bray
- Case Conference notes
- Potential fraud scam re locums
- IUC Fitter Forum Meeting 15th September Taunton
- Whistle Blowing Freedom to speak up- Updated Staff Handbook
- Referral leaflet
- Top Tip
Case Conference notes We think it is important to make sure that practices are aware of important changes in guidance about how child protection case conference summaries and minutes should be handled by practices which came in earlier this year. The time-honoured practice was to store these separately from medical records. The latest version of the Safeguarding Children & Young People in General Practice policy from Somerset CCG offers practical and sensible advice about what to do with these often bulky documents. The relevant GP should read the minutes and pertinent information can be entered as free text under the relevant Read code (3875 – Social Serves case Conference). If much of the document is pertinent then the whole document may be scanned into the record. In any event a note of what category of abuse is under discussion should be visible in the summary, the code 13lv – subject to a Child Protection Plan added and the paper copy can then be securely shredded after ensuring the data has been backed up. This change has come about because it has been accepted that paper records stored elsewhere may not be readily looked at and probably will not accompany the medical record if the child registers elsewhere. Furthermore the existence of a separate file may make a breach in patient confidentiality more likely and concerns about third party confidentiality can be addressed by redacting the names if paper copies of the record are released for any other reason other than child protection. Other children in the household and adults named in the report should have a summary rather than the whole report scanned into their record with the code 13ly (Family member subject of CPP). Readers are referred to the CCG policy for the full guidance.
Potential fraud scam re locums We have received a warning from the GPC as recently two Locum members have been subject to an attempt to gain their bank details through contacting practices where they have been working. The man attempting to gain their details called himself James Keith and phoned the practice reception team stating the name of the Doctor working there and claiming that he worked for a locum agency "down south" but their systems were down so they needed the doctors bank account details in order to pay them.
The practices involved did not give out any details and swiftly informed the GPs of the attempt. They have since reported this to the Action Fraud Team and the police are dealing with it.
IUC Fitter Forum Meeting 15th September Taunton This half day has been organised by SWISH, while it is very short notice we hope that some of our 85 validated fitters will be able to attend, please see flyer for booking details
Whistle Blowing Freedom to Speak up-Staff Handbook Adrian Poole has now finalised the update for the staff handbook, this is now available on the PSU area of the website , you do need to log in to view and download it. Practices should read the general disclaimer and read the amendments carefully to ensure that it meets with your requirements.
Under the new whistleblowing – freedom to speak policy consideration will need to be given as to who the Freedom to Speak Guardian is and their details inserted into the highlighted section. Somerset LMC are speaking to both NHSE and the CCG to establish who this could be.
Referral Leaflet (attached below) We would be grateful if practices that use this form could now print the attached to hand to patients. The original copy of this leaflet contained the LMC phone number and we were receiving calls from confused patients.
Attached file: Referral leaflet - patient referred to see a specialist.pdf
Top Tip
Patients coded with severe frailty will need to record an annual medication review on or after diagnosis of severe frailty. Technical requirements
Kind Regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
TEL: 01823 331428
Fax:01823 338561
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