COVID-19 Primary Care bulletin

14 May 2020

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

Dear colleagues,

To showcase the excellent work happening across primary care in response to COVID-19 we are looking for your stories and case studies on how you have been adapting, innovating and working in partnership.  We will consider them for use in press and social media as well as sharing them on our website and FutureNHS for others to learn from. Please email our primary care communications team: england.primarycare-covidcomms@nhs.net

NHS Volunteer Responders: Practical guide for primary care and community health professionals
With over 550,000 NHS Volunteer Responders ready to help those who need that bit of extra support, a practical guide has been published to help primary care and community health colleagues to understand the opportunities that this scheme offers.

National flu immunisation programme 2020/21
In light of COVID-19, it is more important than ever that effective plans are in place for the 2020/21 flu season to protect those at risk, prevent ill-health and minimise further impact on the NHS and social care. We have published a letter setting out which groups are eligible for the flu vaccination programme this autumn and the actions that commissioners and providers of the flu vaccine programme should take to prepare. We recognise that delivering the flu immunisation programme is likely to be more challenging because of the impact of COVID-19. Further guidance will be issued about how to manage the immunisation programme to reflect circumstances nearer the planned start of the programme in September 2020. 

Updated FAQs on coronavirus outbreak indemnity
NHS Resolution has published updated FAQs on coronavirus outbreak indemnity.

Nikki and Ed

Dentistry

NHS workforce feedback hub
NHS England and NHS Improvement have opened an online feedback hub so that its leaders can listen and respond to the needs and experiences of the NHS workforce at this unprecedented time. We have already received several important contributions from NHS dentists and are seeking to further boost participation from the dental community. The hub is private and anonymous, and is being run by Ipsos MORI, the independent research organisation. It is open to anyone working in the NHS. Learn more and register.

Guidance and Standard Operating Procedure
The most recent guidance letter and standard operating procedure for oral health professionals is available on our website.

Dates for your diary 

Thursday 14 May 5-6pm - GP webinar with Nikki and Ed (Please submit your questions in advance)

Thursday 14 May 8-9pm - PCPA webinar: Managing COVID in Care Homes - Delivering Care

To catch up on previous primary care webinars visit Future NHS.

Nikki and Ed's link of the day

A paper providing a COVID-19 Risk Reduction Framework for healthcare staff designed to help employers to supplement risk assessment of their staff, particularly of high risk and vulnerable groups to ensure staff safety.