16 October 2020

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for your ongoing work as we move into the winter period. We hope you do find this bulletin useful as we will continue to highlight important updates for all providers in the Covid-19 updates section below as well the provider-specific sections when relevant. Today’s issue includes an update on the PPE portal which is relevant to all providers, so please do take note.

Outbreaks and Infection Prevention Control (IPC)

A number of COVID-19 outbreaks have recently been reported in General Practices in parts of England. We know that GP Practices will already be working hard to maintain covid-secure settings for their patients and staff, but by way of a reminder we would like to draw your attention again to the latest IPC guidance which is relevant for all settings.

Nikki and Ed

COVID-19 guidance and updates

Free PPE for the frontline – Register with the PPE Portal

For those who were previously unaware, the PPE Portal has changed from being an ‘emergency top-up’ system to meeting COVID-19 PPE requirements. Eligible primary care providers in England (including community pharmacists, optometrists, dentists, orthodontists and GPs) should now order PPE through the portal, free of charge, to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DHSC has partnered with the NHS and the e-commerce industry to develop this service in order to ensure that those on the frontline have what they need. The overriding priority is to protect people and our wider communities, thereby reducing infections and saving lives. We must make sure everyone has the PPE they need so please do play your part in this collective effort.

Register and access the portal using your CQC/MHRA/NHSE/NHS BSA registered email. The latest guidance on what PPE items you can order (including order limits) is also available. Call the customer service team on 0800 876 6802 if you have any questions about using the PPE portal (including registration and queries or if you think you should have been invited but have not been). The team is available from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week, to help resolve your queries.

The PPE portal will be the primary source of free COVID-19 PPE (including Flu vaccination requirements). However, if there is a severe disruption to distribution, in the first instance get in contact with your local authority or LRF. A gov.uk page will shortly be published with the local authority/LRF contact details. If this route is not possible, get in contact with the NSDR.

Update on complaints (KO41b form) data collection for 19/20 period and refining approach for future years

It is important that general practice and dentistry continue to record and manage complaints effectively during this period. However, in light of the current pressures faced by general practice and dentistry in responding to COVID-19, NHS Digital has confirmed that the annual information requirement relating to the 19/20 period will not be collected as usual. Instead, we encourage you to continue using the information you collect locally for local service improvement purposes.

NHS Digital is planning to improve and refine the data collection and the reporting method for future years. If you would like to help shape the revised approach, please contact: nhs.comp@nhs.net.  

Community pharmacy

Latest updates on flu vaccination for pharmacy teams

Thank you to community pharmacy teams for the excellent work so far in administering over 1.2 million flu vaccines to priority cohorts this autumn.

The Department of Health and Social Care has secured a significant amount of additional flu vaccine stock for release across general practice, community pharmacy and NHS trusts.  A pre-set proportion of this additional stock will be made available to community pharmacy shortly, and the arrangements for how to order against it will be confirmed.

The Public Health England resources to support the mandated flu vaccination campaign are being delivered this week. The resources are in a clearly marked envelope and include a selection of posters to enable teams to target their flu vaccination service according to local circumstances and availability of vaccine. If contractors have not received their pack by 16 October 2020 please email partnerships@phe.gov.uk.

An additional fund of money has been made available to pharmacies to use alternative premises in order to offer flu vaccinations more flexibly off site during the COVID-19 pandemic. The eligibility to claim against these monies for pharmacy is set out in the Drug Tariff, with regional teams now ready to start pre-approving these requests for monies to be claimed via the NHS BSA MYS online portal. 

Primary care

Launch of 2021/22 community mental health transformation funding process

All STPs are being allocated funding to expand and transform their community mental health services for adults with severe mental illnesses. Primary care networks (PCNs) should work with partners to design new service models, which will go live from April 2021. Models should deliver an integrated experience for this group, who often fall into gaps between primary and secondary care. PCNs are encouraged to get in touch with regional mental health teams and view further information on the Adult Mental Health FutureNHS workspace (if you are not a member you may need to join).

Call for members to join the NHS Race and Health Observatory Board

The NHS Race and Health Observatory, hosted by the NHS Confederation, is a new group who will identify and tackle the specific health challenges facing people from BAME backgrounds. Following a meeting with stakeholders on 28 September, applications to join the board panel are now open.

The group is asking for applications from a variety of backgrounds – community representatives, academics, healthcare leaders and service providers – to help deliver their ambitious work programme. Further information regarding Board membership applications is available online.

Discussion at the stakeholder meeting also identified the need for an Academic Reference Group, to provide focused advice and support. More information about how to join this group will be circulated in due course.  

Dates for your diary

Tuesday 20 October, 2pm – 4pm. COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control in care homes

Tuesday 20 October, 8pm - 9pm. Taking A Break From Covid-19: How to Escape, Unwind & Reboot

Thursday, 22 October, 1.45pm – 3pm. Managing hypertension in primary care. This webinar will outline public health and general practice perspectives on tackling hypertension during COVID-19, including a case study from Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. If you have any queries on the session, please email: england.clinicalpolicy@nhs.net.

Wednesday 11 November, 9am - 8pm. NHS Confederation: PCN Network virtual conference

NHS Volunteer Responder programme – regular updates webinars

• Thursday 29 October, 10.30 – 11.30am - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 12 November, 10.30 – 11.30am - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 26 November, 10.30 – 11.30am - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 10 December, 10.30 – 11.30am - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Link of the day

Health Education England has developed a helpful e-learning resource for healthcare professionals to understand the management of the key issues of long COVID; breathlessness, fatigue, exercise and cough.