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Primary Care Bulletin - today's round-up
6 May 2021
Dear colleagues,
Today sees the publication of the latest GP workforce data. Overall, GP numbers have increased over the last quarter and compared to the same point last year, despite the pressures of the pandemic. In the wider general practice workforce, there has also been an increase in headcount compared to the previous quarter.*
It is vital we continue to support our workforce to grow safely, so we can rise to the challenges ahead, including; navigating general practice through the next phase of recovery, tackling the system wide elective backlog, the ongoing vaccination programme and looking ahead to the autumn with the flu vaccination programme.
Ultimately a strong, stable and supported workforce across the whole of primary care will be the solution to meeting the challenges ahead.
Nikki and Ed
* To note this does not include staff employed or engaged by PCNs through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.
Dr Nikki Kanani
GP and Medical Director for Primary Care,
NHS England and NHS Improvement
Ed Waller
Director for Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement
COVID-19 updates
Making the most of electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, instruction was issued to increase use of eRD. This was followed by amendments to patient consent, increasing opportunities for patient benefit. Primary Care responded by issuing over 16 million additional eRD items, saving significant clinical time. It is important that patients now coming to the end of their eRD cycle e.g after 6 or 12 months, receive a medication review and, if still appropriate, are started on their next “batch” of eRD prescriptions. It remains important that patients (or their carer) understand the eRD process. Information is available on the following webpages:
General practice
Understanding your GP career options
There are now different schemes and funding available to GPs who want to change or enhance their career, not change their jobs.
For instance, financial support to help you become a partner, or training to help you develop as a mentor and share the benefit of you experience with others.
Because there are now lots of different options and we know it may be difficult to work out the right move for your individual circumstances we have created the new GP career support hub which includes guidance about the different schemes as well as information about other support which might be helpful to you.
Community Pharmacy
Free Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) Training
Currently 94% of all pharmacies are signed up to provide the CPCS. To support community pharmacists in offering this service we are funding workshops, via Health Education England, to develop the clinical and professional skills needed to support patients. The workshops are delivered by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal College of General Practitioners. To find out more and book your free place visit the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website.
Primary care
Changes to Pneumovax®23 (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine, PPV23) - supply route
There will be a change to the supply route of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV) from 1 June. In line with other national immunisation programmes, PHE will supply this vaccine for the routine immunisation programme and immunisation of those with underlying medical conditions from 1 June 2021, rather than providers locally procuring the vaccine. From this date, the vaccine will be available to order from PHE’s ImmForm website. Please ensure you have an account to enable access. Details of ordering controls will be made available on ImmForm news item in due course. See the ImmForm helpsheet for information on registering for an ImmForm account. More information is available in this published letter.
See through the symptoms – lung cancer campaign
This Tuesday saw the launch of the GP awareness campaign for never smoking lung cancers, called ‘See Through the Symptoms’, supported by ALK Positive UK, EGFR Positive UK and the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Information and resources are available to download, including the press release and social media assets for promotion across your platforms and to share with primary care professionals.
New guidance for PIFU and remote consultation services for people with skin conditions is now available
New guidance is now available on FutureNHS to support systems in trusts in setting up formalised patient initiated follow up (PIFU) in their dermatology services and setting up remote consultation services for people with skin conditions. This guidance has been developed in several key areas to transform outpatient services; improve patient care and enable patients to be seen by the right person in the right place first time.
Dates for your diary
Tuesday 11 May, 7pm - 8pm. Copy with COVID: Managing recovery and supporting patients
Wednesday 12 May, 12pm – 1.30pm. Proactive Care@Home webinar: supporting patients with LTCs
Wednesday 12 May, 1pm – 2pm. New types of cancer treatments and their effects
Wednesday 12 May, 1pm – 2:30pm. Dermatology Transformation: Part 1/3 Webinar Series
Thursday 13 May, 1pm – 2.45pm. Civility and Respect event
Thursday 13 May, 2021 at 1.30 – 2.30pm. How we can help Hidden People access the COVID Vaccine
Monday 24 May, 2pm – 3pm. Lipid Management-Delivering on National CVD priorities using a population health management approach
Tuesday 25 May, 1pm – 1.30pm. Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) in suspected bowel cancer
GP Appointment Data: GP practice briefing. These sessions hosted by NHS Digital will introduce recently issued national categorisation guidance and show practices how to carry out mapping to the new national standard categories. There are several dates available:
- Tuesday 11 May, 8am – 9am
- Thursday 27 May, 4pm – 5pm
- Wednesday 9 June, 11.30am – 12.30pm
- Tuesday 15 June, 5pm – 6pm
Link of the day
