COVID-19 Primary Care bulletin

23 July 2020

COVID-19: today's round-up for primary care

Dear colleagues,

Face coverings

New government guidelines around the use of face coverings and masks in hospital settings were announced on Friday 5 June. Some of these recommendations are now being extended to primary and community healthcare settings.

This is an addition to existing national COVID-19 IPC guidance, which advises on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) usage in patient facing clinical settings and other measures to be taken to reduce transmission risk such as hand hygiene and social distancing.

Third record-breaking year for GP trainee recruitment

With a commitment to growing our exceptional workforce, we’re pleased to announce it’s been a third record-breaking year for GP specialty training acceptances with recruitment up 15% compared to the same point last year.

We’d like to congratulate trainees on passing all components of your MRCGP and on shortly receiving your CCT. We welcome you as fully-fledged GPs and as valued colleagues. We hope that you will have long, happy and fulfilling careers.

We recognise that 2020 is a most unusual year in which to gain your CCT with considerable front-line pressures, shielding for some, examination disruption and uncertainties in the employment market. We would like to thank you for your tolerance, commitment and service in these difficult times.

A number of support packages are available to newly qualified GPs, including the New to Practice Fellowship scheme. For more details contact your local training hub through traininghubs@hee.nhs.uk. If we are to meet the growing demand for high quality primary care, we must continue to grow our workforce and recruit more GPs and other health professionals into primary care networks. Support and guidance is available for you to be able to do this.

Type IIR face masks from Cardinal Health – destroy affected lots

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Authority (MHRA) issued an alert on Monday to all NHS and social care providers, asking organisations to destroy affected lots of the type IIR face masks from Cardinal Health. This must be completed by 3 August 2020. If you are in shortage, you are advised to contact your local resilience forum (LRF) in the first instance, who may be able to assist you or advise you to contact the National Supply Distribution Response.

Containing and managing local COVID-19 outbreaks

The government has published guidance for local authorities and local decision-makers on containing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks at a local level. This document sets out how NHS Test and Trace and the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) will work with local authorities, Public Health England (PHE) and the public to contain and manage local COVID-19 outbreaks.

New regulations came into effect on 18 July 2020 to give local and national government additional powers to stop local transmission of the virus. These will allow them to restrict local public gatherings and events, and close local businesses premises and outdoor spaces.

Nikki and Ed

General practice

COVID-19 test results are now being automatically sent to GP systems

NHS Digital has announced that COVID-19 test results are now being automatically sent to GP systems as well as being communicated to patients, giving GPs visibility of which of their patients have had COVID-19 tests and whether they have tested positive or negative for the virus.

Patients who use online patient services such as the NHS App and who have requested full access to their GP medical records will now be able to access their results themselves, as well as receiving their results via communication from the NHS Business Service Authority as before.

Supporting GP practices who are in the process of implementing or looking to implement remote consultations and digital triage

A new resource and process model from Digital First details the journey of Tollgate Medical Centre in London, which applied total digital triage and remote consultations for patients ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak and is seeing high utilisation of this service.

The resource provides practical insights and learning, including key challenges and how these were overcome, the enablers that helped to embed the new system and support sustainability, and top tips from GP partners and practice staff.

It also highlights the wide-ranging benefits that Tollgate Medical Centre has seen since implementing this total digital triage model, including improved patient care, flexibility for staff, increased staff morale, and cost savings.

Community pharmacy

Written instruction for the administration of seasonal flu vaccination 2020/21

Specialist Pharmacy Services were made aware of issues being encountered on the use of Patient Group Directions (PGDs) within healthcare organisations and occupational health services with regards to offering employees and peer to peer seasonal flu vaccinations. 

Specialist Pharmacy Service in conjunction with Care Quality Commission, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Authority, Royal College of Nursing, Public Health England, British Medical Association Occupational Health Committee and representatives from the NHS and independent sectors have developed written instructions for the administration of seasonal influenza vaccination for 2020/21.

The written instruction template and a factsheet will support the use of the written instruction and includes additional advice specific to GP practices in the use of PGDs and the administration of seasonal flu vaccinations.

Pharmacy Integration Fund case studies

We are celebrating the contribution of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) pharmacy professionals to NHS leadership this NHS Birthday month, with the publication of a case study about Ade Williams, Lead Prescribing Pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy in South Bristol, who has successfully completed the Mary Seacole Programme.

Since 2017, 528 community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have completed the programme, funded by our Pharmacy Integration Fund. More than 47% of professionals successfully completing the course come from BAME groups.

The programme is a rigorous six-month development opportunity for first time leaders, designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge to successfully lead and manage teams. The programme provides a balance between the theory of leadership and a toolkit of skills that can be implemented in real life. It is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Optometry

The most recent guidance letter and standard operating procedure for optical staff is available on our website.

Dentistry

New dentist profiles on the NHS website

New NHS website dentist profiles, that will better meet the needs of patients, feature improved support for mobile and tablet devices and meet modern accessibility standards will launch for dental surgeries from 27 July 2020.

If you are a profile editor responsible for a dentist profile, you do not need to do anything. Your existing profile information will be automatically copied over to the new platform and the way you update your profile will stay the same. Profiles editors will receive further information via email from the NHS website service desk.

The launch has been prioritised by the need to include COVID-19 signposting information for patients which is difficult to implement through the current profiles. 

This work is part of a programme to continuously improve the care and experience offered to patients through the NHS website, the UK’s largest health website for the public.

Additional information

Preventing and controlling outbreaks of COVID-19 in prisons and places of detention

Public Health England has updated the information for prisons and other prescribed places of detention on coronavirus to add information on interpreting negative test results in those who are symptomatic.

Closing the inequality gap for people with a learning disability

People with learning disabilities are four times more likely to die from a treatable health condition compared with the general public, so carrying out proactive health checks (part of the network DES) are essential if we are to tackle this health inequality. The fourth annual learning disability review and action report shows more work needs to be done.

The NHS is seeking expressions of interest from sites who are striving to become ‘exemplars’ in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. If successful, they will receive a share of £250,000 for their plans. Important lessons from these trailblazers will then be rapidly rolled out as good practice across the NHS.

Consultation on draft ‘Framework for involving patients in patient safety’

As a result of COVID-19 we have extended the closing date of our consultation on a draft Framework for involving patients in patient safety to 18 October 2020.

The framework sets out how NHS organisations should support patients, their families and carers to be directly involved in their own or their loved one’s safety; and also how organisations should support patients, carers, family members or other lay people to be involved in wider governance of safety activities.

View the draft framework and access the consultation on our consultation webpages.

Dates for your diary

Digital Primary Care online presence – accessibility compliance

Public sector organisations have a legal duty to make sure websites and apps meet accessibility requirements. The accessibility regulations aim to help make sure online public services are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

CCGs and GP practices are invited to attend one of two webinars and learn more about meeting the W3C accessibility standards before the deadline of 23 September 2020.

Wednesday 29 July, 1 - 2pm – book now
Wednesday 19 August, 5 – 6pm – book now

Wednesday 29 July, 12.30pm - 1.30pm – PCNs: One Year On. This month marks the one-year anniversary of primary care networks (PCNs) being established across England. To reflect on how much progress PCNs have made so far, look ahead to the next 12 months for networks and explore what additional support they may need, the PCN Network is convening an expert panel for a webinar.

Thursday 4 August, 5 - 6pm – GP webinar with Nikki Kanani

NHS Volunteer Responder programme updates – new webinars

Fortnightly webinars are being held to provide regular updates on the NHS Volunteer Responder programme. The webinars are for referrers and colleagues working across health and care, including: primary care; social care; local authorities; government departments; voluntary sector organisations; STPs and ICSs; and NHS England and Improvement regional teams.

These webinars will provide an overview of the programme, including facts, figures and the most recent updates on programme adaptations in response to policy changes and the needs of vulnerable people.

• Thursday 6 August, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 20 August, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 3 September, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 17 September, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 1 October, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Nikki and Ed's link of the day 

Delivering mass vaccinations during COVID-19 – a logistical guide for general practice. More information will follow shortly about the flu programme but in the meantime the Royal College of General Practitioners have produced the following helpful reflections on delivery of the programme in the current context.