Somerset LMC Weekly Update Friday 29th December 2017
Date sent: Friday 29 December 2017
All Somerset GPs and Practice Managers
- Flu Vaccination – Progress to date
- Letter to LMCs re meeting between GPC and NHS England
- GPC Roadshow Contract 2018/19
- Top tip for this week
Flu Vaccination – Progress to date As expected, flu incidence has started to climb as we go into the peak season: for Week 50 the GP surveillance programme reported 11.4 cases of flu like illness per 100, 0000 as opposed to 8.5 in Week 49. Our impression is that vaccine coverage is about the same as last year, but it’s still worth offering immunisation especially to those most at risk: PHE says that in comparison to the 6 months to under 65 years population who are not in any at-risk group, those with chronic liver disease are 48.2 times more likely than to die if they contract flu. For those with immunosuppression, these individuals are 47.3 times more likely to die from flu than those of the same age who aren’t in an at-risk group.
Fluenz for Patients with Learning Disability PHE guidance allows the use of Fluenz stock for some patients with learning disability.
“When someone with learning disabilities who is anxious about needles requires a blood test or an injection there should always be consideration of less invasive alternatives. This would include the use of the nasal spray flu vaccine. The live intranasal influenza vaccine is given as a single spray squirted up each nostril.T his has the advantage of being needle-free and for children it is more effective than the injected flu vaccine. This is not licensed for adults, as there is it may be less effective than the injected inactivated vaccine. However, guidance for healthcare workers says that medical practitioners can choose to use the nasal spray “off-label” and that this can be for ‘patients with learning difficulties who become seriously distressed with needles’ . PHE has agreed that the national stock of the nasal spray flu can be used for this purpose but it needs to be individually prescribed using a Patient Specific Direction (PSD).”
Flu vaccination reduces NHS staff sickness absence A new study from Imperial College shows that increasing staff flu vaccination levels can reduce staff sickness absence. The study looks at 223 NHS trusts, covering approximately 800,000 staff in each of four influenza seasons from 2011. It found that a 10 per cent increase in vaccination rate is associated with a 10 per cent fall in sickness absence rate.
GPC Roadshow contract 2018/19 Unfortunately the GPC have not offered Somerset our own Roadshow for 2018, we are hoping to facilitate a local one for practices ourselves, however in the interim you are able to book on the Avon LMC event on the 31st January in Bristol, please find details here
Supporting mental health in general practice Mind has a released a survey that looks into GPs’ experiences in supporting people with mental health problems, including training in mental health, as well as wellbeing and what support mechanisms are in place to support GPs.
To take the survey, please click here.
Top tip for this week The link within the Technical Requirements for 2017/18 GMS Contract Changes-Version 3 for the falls codes page 34 is not working. However we have found the document and it can be downloaded here
We wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year
Kind Regards
Jill
Jill Hellens
Executive Director
Somerset LMC
TEL: 01823 331428
Fax:01823 338561
General Practice In Somerset Great Place Great Potential
