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Primary Care Bulletin - today's round-up
1 July 2021
Dear colleagues,
Phase 3 booster programme
We communicated in planning guidance earlier in the year that we would need to prepare for the possibility of a COVID-19 booster campaign in the Autumn or Winter. This letter sets out the Phase 3 programme assumptions to support and guide your planning. The Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI) advises that any potential booster programme should begin in September 2021, in order to maximise protection in those who are most vulnerable to serious COVID-19 ahead of the winter months. As this will coincide with the Flu vaccine programme the JCVI suggests that, where possible, a synergistic approach is taken to support delivery and maximise uptake of both vaccines. It precedes advice from the JCVI and other developments over the coming months, and as such plans will inevitably need to flex as new information becomes available. We recognise that providers need clarity on the role they can play in Phase 3 activity. We will be writing to general practices and community pharmacies in early July with details of the service specifications.
We know the critical role that both general practice and community pharmacy have played and will continue to play in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, alongside the seasonal flu vaccination programme. We will continue to work with you on how these programmes will be delivered, as intelligence and advice emerges. We are also keen to learn from your experiences including areas for improvement and how we can balance the vaccination programme with business as usual activity.
COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a updated
Public Health England has updated the Green Book with clarification around the schedule following the emergence of Delta variant, advice on cautions and contraindications, and co-administration advice. More evidence also added on vaccine effectiveness and mixed schedules. In line with JCVI guidance, one of these changes includes recommending an interval of 8 to 12 weeks between doses of all the available COVID-19 vaccines. This consistent interval should be used for all two dose vaccines to avoid confusion and simplify booking, and will help to ensure a good balance between achieving rapid and long-lasting protection.
Nikki and Ed
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
Updated standard operating procedure for LVS deployment
We have updated the Standard Operating Procedure for LVS Deployment in Community Settings. Please note that this is currently draft and will be published in final form on our website soon. This consolidated version has been restructured and reduced in length to improve the flow and usability. If you have any feedback to this draft document either usability or additional elements that should be considered for inclusion, please email us at: england.pccovidvaccines@nhs.net.
Changes to how primary care staff access lateral flow devices for asymptomatic testing
The way that NHS staff across all primary care contractor groups (medical, dental, optometry and community pharmacy) order lateral flow device (LFD) tests is changing. From 5 July 2021, all NHS staff will be able to order tests directly through the government lateral flow ordering portal and have these delivered to their home addresses.
Asymptomatic staff testing is an important component of Infection Prevention and Control, which all organisations and staff have a duty to adhere to. We are grateful for the continued efforts of primary care contractors in keeping staff and patients safe from potential transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.
The supporting LFD standard operating procedure and frequently asked questions are being updated and will be published shortly. More information about the change is available in the letter issued to system leaders on Tuesday.
Temporary approval to suspend the need for signatures on prescriptions, dental and ophthalmic forms (extension)
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has approved an extension to an existing temporary measure in England to help limit the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) by suspending the need for patients to sign prescription, dental and ophthalmic forms. The suspension has been in place since 1 November 2020 and is now extended for a further two months until 31 August 2021.
This is to avoid cross contamination and help minimise the handling of paperwork when collecting medicines or receiving dental and eye care. Patients will still be required to either pay the relevant charge or prove their eligibility for an exemption from charges.
DHSC reimbursement of COVID-19 costs incurred by pharmacy contractors and recovery of advanced payments
All contractors are now being invited to submit claims for the additional costs due to Covid 19 that were incurred between 1 March 2020 and 31 March 2021. For more details, including how to claim, please refer to the NHS BSA’s website. All claims must be submitted to the NHSBSA between 5 July and 15 August 2021. Payments will be made on 1 October 2021. At the same time, DHSC has confirmed that the uplift to the advanced payments received by contractors between 1 April and 1 July 2020, totalling £370m, will be recovered as part of the monthly reconciliation from 1 October 2021 to 1 March 2022 in six equal parts.
Demonstrating your COVID vaccination status with NHS COVID Pass
People vaccinated in England who have had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine can demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status for international travel. NHS Digital has produced a guide for general practice to provide you with up to date information on the NHS COVID Pass service and what you should do if a registered patient contacts you about incorrect information in their health record. Further information is available on the NHS Digital website.
General practice
Two new Enhanced Services start today
The two new voluntary Enhanced Services which are priority to support the recovery of the pandemic, begin today. The weight loss management enhanced service encourages practices to develop a supportive environment for clinicians to engage with patients living with obesity about their weight and rewards referrals to services including the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP). The DWMP is available for adults living with obesity who also have either diabetes, or hypertension or both, via General Practice referral, and provides patients with free access, via their smartphone or computer, to a 12-week behavioural and lifestyle intervention. Almost two-thirds of adults in England are living with overweight or obesity – and 1 in 3 children leave primary school living with overweight or obesity, with obesity-related illnesses costing the NHS £6 billion a year. For comprehensive information and details on how your Practice can start referring immediately to the Digital Weight loss Management Programme, including a leaflet for patients and a GP toolkit, please visit our website.
General practice is playing a key role in managing patients with long COVID. Therefore, to support you in managing this new and complex condition, NHS England are providing up to £30m for professional education, training and pathway development that will enable management in primary care where appropriate and more consistent referrals to clinics for specialist assessment. The funding also supports accurate coding and planning to ensure equity of access. For more information see the Enhanced Service Specification: Long Covid 21/22.
Pharmacy
Ten-year anniversary of pharmacy technicians becoming a registered profession
To mark today’s 10-year anniversary of pharmacy technicians becoming a registered profession, the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have jointly written to pharmacy technicians.
In the letter they thank pharmacy technicians for their professionalism and commitment in meeting the major challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and reaffirm their continuing support to the profession to provide high-quality care to patients and the public.
In addition, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK is also holding a celebratory event for its members this evening to make the occasion.
Extension of the Community Pharmacy Medicines Delivery Service
We would like to confirm that we will continue to commission the Medicines Delivery Service for self-isolating patients from 1 July 2021 until 30 September 2021. The service specifications and guidance is available to read online.
Please note that the Medicines Delivery Service for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) patients ended on 31 March 2021 and the claims process has now closed.
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device Distribution Service (Pharmacy Collect)
Following discussions with NHS Test and Trace we can confirm that we will extend the Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device Distribution Service (Pharmacy Collect) until 29 August 2021. More information is available online.
Thank you to community pharmacy for your continued support in providing these vital services to your communities and keeping patients safe.
Primary care
Reminder: snapshot wellbeing survey of the primary care workforce
This survey is the third in a series that will be used to assess the current wellbeing of the primary care workforce. It asks you to reflect on your personal wellbeing as well as the functioning of your team and your experiences of working remotely. We are using the results of this research to continually improve the coaching support we
are offering. Please submit your responses by Monday 12 July.
Diabetes UK offers free wellbeing course to primary care nurses
A new training programme has been launched with the aim of helping nurses and other primary care staff to provide better emotional and psychological support to patients with diabetes. The free, online continuing professional development (CPD) training module has been launched by Diabetes UK and is accredited by the Royal College of Nursing.
Migrant Health Animations from Public Health England
Due to the long-standing multiple barriers migrants face in accessing health services, including immunisation, there is a need to increase knowledge of entitlements to NHS services and of vaccination among healthcare professionals who support migrants in their practice. To address this the PHE National Migrant Health Team have produced two animations aimed at healthcare professionals in England:
These animations aim to dispel fears of being charged for free NHS services, supports PHE’s role in reducing health inequalities by clarifying entitlements to healthcare and upholds the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Webinar to explain new initial education and training reforms for pharmacists
A joint webinar being organised by Health Education England and the General Pharmaceutical Council will explore how the Initial Education and Training reform programme for pharmacists will be implemented in the 2021/2022 Foundation Training Year (the new name for the pre-registration training year).
Please contact the HEE National Pharmacy Team at traineepharmacist@hee.nhs.uk for further information.
Regional events on new payments and incentives to drive innovation in systems
We are organising three regional events to gather views on how new payment and incentive approaches could help remove barriers to innovation across health care systems.
We want to gather views from Primary Care staff alongside other stakeholders with different perspectives in order to establish the likely impact the new payment approaches will have on the adoption and spread of innovation across Integrated Care Systems.
Feedback will inform payment policy recommendations and associated guidance for 2022/23 National Tariff. Please reserve your place on one of the three virtual events.
NHS birthday 2021, Monday 5 July 2021
As the NHS turns 73, we would like to take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of one of the nation’s most loved institutions, to appreciate the vital role the service plays in our lives, and to recognise and thank the extraordinary NHS staff – who are there to guide, support and care for us, day in, day out. Here are the main activities that we are organising nationally:
Saturday 3 July
Memorial service: the NHS will hold a special memorial service to remember NHS colleagues who have sadly died during the pandemic.
Light up blue: landmark buildings in towns and cities across the country are helping the NHS celebrate as it turns 73 this year by ‘lighting up blue’.
Sunday 4 July
Thank You Day: the Together Coalition will lead a national day of thanks and recognition to celebrate the incredible work of our NHS staff.
Monday 5 July
St Paul’s service: NHS staff who were on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19 will be at the heart of a special service of commemoration and thanksgiving to be held at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Big Tea: from 3pm, join NHS Charities Together and take a tea break like no other.
Dates for your diary
Thursday 1 July, 8pm - 9pm. PCPA, PSNC and NPA webinar on GP referral to Community Pharmacist Consultation Service implementation gems and resources
Friday 2 July, 12.30pm - 2pm. A years’ long clinical experience and insight of a Long COVID assessment clinic
Tuesday 6 July, 2pm - 3pm. Making online meetings accessible for people with a learning disability and autistic people
Tuesday 6 July, 7pm - 8.30pm. National webinar with senior leaders from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and NHS England and NHS Improvement. Diversity and Representation in the Leadership of the Pharmacy Professions
Wednesday 7 July, 1pm - 2.30pm. Dermatology Transformation webinar
Wednesday 7 July, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Supporting people with learning disabilities to access social prescribing
Wednesday 7 July, 2pm - 3.30pm. Carer-friendly general practice
Wednesday 7 July, 3pm. NHS Parliamentary Awards national ceremony
The NHS Parliamentary Awards is an annual programme run by the NHS, designed to give Members of Parliament the opportunity to recognise the achievements of teams and organisations across the health and social care sector. We have a specific dedicated category to Excellence in Primary Care and for the first time since its launch in 2018, the NHS Parliamentary Awards will be free to view for everyone, giving you the chance to hear about the excellent work being done by teams and individuals across the country. Read NHSE National Medical Director Steve Powis’ article on Politics Home and about our regional nominees.
Thursday 15 July, 10am - 11am. Digitally excluded people's experience of remote GP appointments
Thursday 15 July, 5 - 6pm. General Practice webinar
Link of the day
