Primary Care Bulletin - this week's round-up

11 October 2021

Dear colleagues,

It’s great to see community pharmacies and general practices working together to implement the GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS). It is something that systems can do to help prepare for winter, freeing up time for GPs to focus on more complex patients. The referral pathway empowers practice teams to refer patients presenting with minor illnesses for convenient, same-day consultations with clinical advice and over the counter, when required. The National Pharmacy Association have also produced a myth busting guide to help improve understanding of the service and benefits to practices and patients.

The Impact and Investment Fund (IIF) requirements that came into place at the beginning of this month, also includes the requirement for PCNs to develop plans for how they will increase appropriate referrals through to community pharmacies via the GP CPCS.

An NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) IT Buyer’s Guide has been published to aid pharmacy contractors to purchase CPCS IT solutions. A supporting webinar will take place on Thursday, 14 October 2021 from 7pm – 8.30pm, please register to attend.

Nikki and Ed

COVID-19 updates

Collect Code for the COVID-19 test kit distribution service 

The amended COVID-19 test kit distribution service asks people to collect a code before picking up a test kit from participating pharmacies. Marketing resources have been sent to pharmacies, including A3 and A4 posters, and A5 leaflets which pharmacies can display on premises. If you have not received a delivery, please contact PharmacyCollect@dhsc.gov.uk.  

Additional resources are available on the Coronavirus Campaign Resource Centre. This includes co-branding templates, suggested copy for social media and additional posters translated into 12 languages. People should be encouraged to get a collect code and can use the QR code on the marketing materials with their smartphone. If people are unable to get a collect code, they will still be able to be provided with a test kit. 

Frequently Asked Questions are available from the PSNC website.

Public consultation on extending free PPE to the health and care sector

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a public consultation on extending free PPE to the health and care sector beyond 31 March 2022. The consultation will close on the 31 October 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – workspace

General practice

NHS Cervical Screening Programme- National Ceasing Audit

On 19 August 2021 we informed you that the Cervical Screening Administrative Service (CSAS) will be contacting GP practices to request action to support phase 1 of a national ceasing audit of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme to ensure that no individuals have been inappropriately ceased from the programme. We have agreed that a one-off contribution payment will be made to all GP practices who review more than 10 patient records as part of the national ceasing audit. Practices that review more than 10 patient records will receive £7.66 per record reviewed. Practices do not need to apply to receive this funding. All practices that have completed the audit request and reviewed more than 10 patient records will receive their one-off contribution payment from their CCG in either November or December 2021.

All phase 1 requests have been issued and thank you to all practices who have completed the action and returned to CSAS. Practices who have still to complete this action are asked to respond to CSAS by the timescales outlined in their communication to you. If CSAS does not receive a response then all patients identified will be reinstated into the NHS Cervical Screening Programme. 

GP Contract changes - October 2021

The following amendments were made to the GP contract from 1 October 2021:

• The introduction of a requirement for the disclosure of information about NHS earnings which will begin for individuals who have NHS earnings of over £150,000 in 2019-20. Further information is available in the general practice pay transparency guidance.
• Changes to the process of registering with a GP practice for Crown Servants posted overseas and their family members.
• The removal of the requirement for individual patient consent when moving a patient with an electronic repeatable prescription on to electronic repeat dispensing.
• New requirements regarding the digital offer which all practices must provide to patients.
• The introduction of exemption confirmation requests for patients who should not be tested for, or vaccinated against, coronavirus.
• A requirement for the transfer of patient records between GP practices within 28 days of receiving the request.

The amendment to the regulations is available online. The Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE), Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) Directions and Directed Enhanced Services (DES) Directions have also been updated.

Extension of the suspension of Friends and Family Test Returns

The temporary suspension of the requirement that practices report to commissioners about the Friends and Family Test (FFT) Returns has been extended until the 31 December 2021 under The National Health Service (Amendments Relating to the Provision of Primary Care Services During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations 2020.

Delivering the PCN service specification on early cancer diagnosis 2021/22

Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support have launched a mini-series of short videos featuring GPs who offer advice about delivering the DES requirements for PCNs. The seven short films cover: top tips; getting started with work on cancer early diagnosis; alignment PCN DES and QOF QI; building on improvement activity; tackling inequalities; safety netting and metrics; and digital and tech solutions.

New contact information on the GP Career Support Hub

The GP Career Support Hub now has regional and system contact information relating to the people and teams who are there to support GP careers in your area. The information is presented as a regional breakdown, and then by scheme including the General Practice Fellowship, Flexible Staff Pools, Supporting Mentors and includes your local training hub contacts.

This is the latest development on the GP Career Support Hub, a one-stop shop for GP career advice and information, prompted by feedback from GPs and other users of the site.

If you would like your local initiative featured on the hub, please let us know by contacting us via the contact us facility on the site.

#Choose GP campaign launch

Applications for 2022 GP specialty training, open on 4 November until 1 December 2021. If you know any doctors who may be thinking about career options in general practice please do share the information available on the GP National Recruitment Office website, including timelines and applicant guidance, as well as contact details for current GPs and trainees who can help with local or general enquiries.

You can also email the team for more info and please ‘like’ and follow the #Choose GP Facebook and Instagram page to keep up to date with news and views.

General practice - latest updates

Dentistry

Next steps to support the recovery of NHS dentistry

We have written to general dental service contractors to announce the next steps to support the recovery of NHS dentistry, with contractual arrangements from October to December. This includes a safe increase in the activity thresholds, a continuation of clinical prioritisation, support for our NHS dental teams and an update on dental system reform.

Your NHS dentistry and oral health update

The latest update for dental teams is available now to read.

Community pharmacy

Extension of the Community Pharmacy Medicines Delivery Service

The Medicines Delivery Service will continue to be commissioned from community pharmacies and dispensing doctors for self-isolating patients from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022. The service specifications and guidance is available to read online.

Extension to the emergency declaration

The declaration of an emergency requiring the flexible provision of pharmaceutical services (direction 2 of the Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services and Emergency Declaration) Directions 2020) which was introduced to help maintain pharmacy services during the COVID-19 outbreak, has been extended to 31 January 2022.

Reminder to update Directory of Services profiles for Christmas and New Year

Contractors are reminded of the requirement to verify and where necessary, update the information contained in their NHS website profile and their Directory of Services (DoS) profile at least once in each quarter of the financial year. Christmas and New Year bank holiday opening times are listed on DoS for the following days: Saturday 25, Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December 2021 and Monday 3 January 2022. 

All other days are defined as normal working days and any agreed changes to the standard availability for those days must be entered as additional dates on the Profile Updater.

Primary care

NHS system oversight framework antimicrobial prescribing metrics for 2021/22

Antibiotic prescribing in the community in England has been decreasing since 2014 – in line with the UK AMR National Action Plan ambition to reduce it by 25% by 2024. COVID-19 however has resulted in an increase in the precautionary prescribing of antibiotics due to concerns about bacterial co-infection.

Two indicators have therefore been carried forward from the NHS Oversight Framework to the System Oversight Framework (SOF) for Integrated Care Systems for 2021/22, to facilitate a safe reduction in overall antibiotic exposure by highlighting variation, so ICSs can provide appropriate support to practices and PCNs.

Looking after your team – improving team resilience and wellbeing

This is an opportunity for those who lead, manage or organise teams, groups or networks in primary care to access confidential coaching about their team and to develop practical tools and methods to work with your team in whatever way is important to you.

Conversations may include how to:

• support new team members and embed new roles
• connect as a team and improve performance
• build an environment of trust and safety.

Having an open and honest conversation with an experienced coach at a date and time that suits you, can help to create a more resilient and compassionate team culture. Coaching is free and is available Monday to Saturday.

Enhancing the health of care home residents

A new animation has been launched for all health and social care professionals working in multidisciplinary teams involved in improving patient care in care homes. Shown through resident Magdalena’s eyes, we find out how health and care home professionals can work collaboratively to improve the health of their residents and to plan proactive and personalised care. Find out more on the Enhanced Health in Care Homes webpage.

New Digital Clinical Safety Strategy published

NHSX has published the NHS's first ever Digital Clinical Safety Strategy. Building on the NHS patient safety strategy, it sets out two clear aims:

• to improve the safety of digital technologies in health and care, now and in the future
• to identify and promote the use of digital technologies as solutions to enduring patient safety problems.

Safe digital health technologies are critical to COVID-19 recovery efforts. Read the strategy and contact the team at nhsxdigitalsafety@nhsx.nhs.uk with any feedback.

A message of thanks and support from the Chief Nursing Officers in the UK and the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Read our joint message with the UK’s Chief Nursing Officers, including Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer, England. A huge thanks to all nurses and midwives – you are all incredible.

Get involved

RPS Workforce and Wellbeing Survey 2021

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has launched its third annual Workforce Wellbeing survey, in partnership with Pharmacist Support. The survey is open to all pharmacists in every setting, including students, and will run until 10 October 2021. Please do take a few minutes to complete it.

Share your feedback on the Buying Catalogue

The NHS Digital Buying Catalogue is a digital marketplace where buyers of clinical IT systems for general practice and primary care can browse and procure centrally assured IT systems. We want to invite GPs, practice managers, and IT leads who are involved in the selection and procurement of new clinical IT systems to help us shape the Buying Catalogue. Participants will be invited to review new functionality and provide feedback. To participate, complete this short survey or contact olga.tsyba@nhs.net.

Beneficial Changes Network – submissions now open

The Beneficial Changes Network is now open for a second round of submissions from the frontline to learn from the incredible ways in which people and systems continually improve through transformation, innovation and collaboration, whilst safeguarding effective health and care delivery. Find out more and make your submission before 22 October 2021.

Blogs, case studies and podcasts

BLOG: Embracing community pharmacy in PCNs and systems can improve population health

Read the latest NHS Confederation blog about how embracing community pharmacy in PCNs and systems can improve population health.

BLOG: WHO highlights role of screening and vaccination in reaching hepatitis B control targets

The PHE infectious diseases in pregnancy screening (IDPS) programme and PHE immunisation team are celebrating after a commendation for the UK in achieving regional hepatitis B control targets.

Key dates

29 October 2021 – Deadline to sign up to the Enhanced Service for Long Covid

Upcoming events and webinars

12, 19 and 26 October. Race Ahead – NHS Big Conversation on Race

12 October, 10.30am - 12pm. Personal health budget back to basics webinar

12 October, 11.15am - 1pm. Introduction to Proactive Care @home webinars   

12 October, 12.30pm – 1.45pm. What can help MSK health nationally, regionally and locally, now more than ever?

13 October, 12pm - 1.30pm. Regional Spotlight on social prescribing in the North West

13 October, 5pm - 6pm. The key ingredients for access improvement

14 October, 11am - 12.15pm. Health Inequalities - Priority 4: Accelerating Preventative Programmes

14, 19 and 21 October, 9.30am - 12pm. Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) 2021 webinars

Link of the day

How can we reduce the toll of loneliness in older adults?