COVID-19 Primary Care bulletin

29 May 2020

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

Dear colleagues,

Yesterday we held a primary care focus day for the #HelpUsHelpYou campaign which was created to amplify to the public that the NHS was still open for business. We shared activity on our social media channels, as well as through case studies and blogs highlighting the great work you are doing across primary care which you have been sharing with us. We will continue to share your work through our channels in the coming days and weeks.

Antibody testing – available to order now

Many of you have asked us about plans for COVID-19 serology testing. Earlier this week, NHS England and Improvement wrote to systems describing how serology testing will be rolled out to both patients and NHS staff. The antibody testing programme will help us understand how the disease spreads. This will work alongside PCR testing which confirms whether or not someone currently has the virus.

We can confirm that the antibody test will be available for practices to use from today as you deem appropriate to manage your patients. Where there is not a specific clinical indication for the test, the Secretary of State has announced that it may be offered to NHS patients already having their blood taken and who wish to know whether they have been infected with COVID-19.

We can therefore confirm that all patients for whom bloods are being ordered can have a COVID-19 antibody test added from today if appropriate. Appropriate consent should be obtained and documented in the patient record. The NHS lab result will be available to the practice in the normal way and it is their responsibility to inform the patient of the result and that a positive test does not indicate immunity to COVID-19.

In addition, the letter described a plan to roll out testing to staff working across primary care which you may wish to access as soon as it is available in your local area – further details will be available to you shortly.  

Risk assessments for BAME and other staff

NHS Employers have published guidance on risk assessment, particularly for at risk and vulnerable groups within the workforce. This includes staff returning to work for the NHS, and existing team members who are potentially more at risk due to their race and ethnicity, age, weight, underlying health conditions, disability, or pregnancy. NHS Employers have taken an inclusive approach and have described that the guidance is applicable, with appropriate local adaptations, in all healthcare settings. 

Nikki and Ed

Dentistry

Resumption of dental services

A letter published yesterday confirmed the ask that all dental practices commence opening from Monday 8 June for all face to face care, where the necessary infection prevention and control (IPC) and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are in place. Please do review and make the appropriate adjustments to protocols, procedures and practice infrastructure in order to support the safe and effective resumption of routine dental care.

General Practice

PPE Portal

Earlier this week the Government announced that GPs and small care homes can register on the PPE Portal, a new online portal for ordering emergency personal protective equipment (PPE) from a central inventory, to supplement the wholesale supply route that already operates. The Department of Health and Social Care developed the portal in partnership with eBay UK, NHS Supply Chain, the Army, Clipper and Royal Mail.

Community pharmacy

New social media campaign

A new social media campaign promoting the work of community pharmacies and how they are supporting patients and the public to keep safe and get the advice and medicines they need during the covid pandemic will be taking place across this and next week. Keep a look out for the activity on NHS social media channels and share and retweet to support the campaign. In addition, updated social media assets for community pharmacy during the pandemic can be found on the Campaign Resource Centre.

Optometry

The most recent guidance letter for optical staff is available on our website.

Dates for your diary 

Thursday 4 June, 5-6pm - GP Webinar with Nikki Kanani and Ed Waller