COVID-19 Primary Care bulletin

6 July 2020

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

Dear colleagues,

The New to Partnerships Payment scheme launched last week to provide an opportunity for eligible health care professionals to become a partner at their GP practice. The initial launch focused on clinical partners but we will keep the scheme under review to improve its impact and we welcome feedback about opportunities to do this.

Over the weekend it was the 72nd #NHSBirthday and a chance to pay tribute to the hard work of NHS staff. I [Nikki] recorded a message of thanks which paid particular attention to those working in primary care and featured some of our colleagues, demonstrating how you have worked to help the NHS in the fight against COVID-19.

Colleagues are reminded that there is a wealth of support available to you including a wellbeing support helpline, a 24/7 text alternative, peer to peer, team and personal resilience support, free mindfulness apps and the #LookingAfterYouToo coaching offer.

We also recently asked NHS organisations to support staff by making significant progress in deploying risk assessments for all staff in at-risk groups. Guidance on risk assessments is available here.

Nikki and Ed

General practice

Alert regarding Cardinal Health Type IIR masks

You may have received an Important Customer Alert about Cardinal Health Type IIR masks on 26 June 2020. Although these masks meet the breathability, filtration and splash resistance requirements of BS EN 14683, in light of ongoing monitoring, further complaints reported and testing from the manufacturer on the masks, the MHRA recommends that all lots of this product are disposed of locally. There is a risk to staff wearing the mask if the foam strip on the mask flakes and enters their airway or mouth. There have also been complaints of the ties and/or stitching coming away from the mask. The product affected is the Type IIR Mask from the supplier Cardinal Health (NPC: BWM028, MPC: AT74535UK, applies to all lots of AT74535UK).

Any practices who are about to run out of type IIR masks due to this product quality notice should contact the supplier they originally received this product from for further stock: this could be the wholesaler or the Local Resilience Forum (LRF).  For emergency supply, providers can contact their LRF who have PPE stock available, or the NSDR.   

Practices can also register and place orders for PPE via the Portal. PPE ordered from the portal is free of charge and orders will be delivered by Royal Mail within 48 hours for orders placed before 1pm and 72 hours for orders placed after 1pm. Further information can be found on the DHSC PPE Portal guidance page (see below).

PPE Portal order limits for general practice and social care providers

After considering the stock and demand levels of customers invited to the PPE Portal, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have adjusted the order limits based on size and type of provider. The NHS.net issues around receiving the eBay confirmation emails has now been resolved to allow registration on the Portal.

More information is available on the DHSC PPE Portal guidance page and the Portal customer service team can be reached on 0800 876 6802 for enquiries or registration support.

Community pharmacy

Temporary closures and changes to opening hours

On 30 June 2020 the Department of Health and Social Care announced the extension of emergency provisions until 1 September 2020. This enables pharmacies to apply to NHS England & NHS Improvement to temporarily close or change their opening hours. In the application a contractor must state their reasons for the change; and give at least 24 hours’ notice of the temporary change or closure. Contractors are reminded of the need to update their DoS profile and NHS website entry in the event of a temporary closure or change to opening hours.

The emergency provisions also enable the home delivery of medicines and appliances service during the COVID-19 outbreak until 31 July 2020, as noted in Tuesday’s bulletin (more information can be found here).

Registration renewal requirements for pharmacy professionals

The General Pharmaceutical Council has announced that pharmacy professionals with a registration renewal deadline between 1 September and 31 December 2020 will not be required to submit revalidation records when renewing their registration, in recognition of the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This relaxation already applied to professionals with a renewal deadline between 20 March and 31 August 2020. Instead, pharmacy professionals should submit a reflective account when renewing their registrations. For more information please see the GPhC website.

Medicines Use Reviews

Planned changes to the MUR target groups have been delayed until 31 December 2020. 70% of MURs undertaken must be for patients taking high-risk medicines or those that have recently been discharged from hospital. Previously the target group for patients recently discharged from hospital was expected to end at midnight on 30 June 2020.

New Medicines Service

From 1 July 2020, contractors providing the NMS are no longer required to possess an MUR certificate. This is linked to plans to complete the phasing out of MURs by 30 April 2021.

Additional information

Outstanding CCG award winner shares its secrets for achieving excellence

Sandwell and Birmingham CCG, which serves a particularly deprived population in England, potentially saved 1,925 GP appointments for minor ailments as part of its activities during National Self Care Week last year. Learn how you could implement a similar programme using this case study by the CCG which reveals how it was done and how it overcame the barriers to help achieve its aims.

The Primary Care Knowledge Boost podcast: COVID-19 

At the moment with increased isolation, anxiety and loneliness, social prescribing has become more important than ever. Sara and Lisa speak to GP Dr Jaweeda Idoo (clinical champion for personalised care in Greater Manchester) and Sophie Glinka (social prescribing lead for people and communities in Greater Manchester) about the role of social prescribing during COVID-19 and indeed in general. They talk about some case studies where social prescribing has been invaluable to the care and support of patients, and showcase the importance of this facet of community care. Listen here.

Dates for your diary 

Monday 6 July, 1.30-2.30pm – COVID-19, social prescribing and Population Health Management (PHM). Our relaunch of the PHM webinar series will explore how data can be used to support new care models, interventions and integrated care. The event is aimed at primary care, place and system teams, clinicians, managers and commissioners and anyone with an interest in Population Health Management.

Monday 6 July, 2-3pm – Supporting communities at the sharp edge of inequality during COVID-19. Register for this webinar to find out about some of the challenges being faced by refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, Gypsies and Travellers, Roma communities and sex workers during coronavirus and to hear about how you can help to address these.

Wednesday 8 July, 7-8pm – Risk assessment and community pharmacy webinar

Thursday 9 July, 3pm or Friday 10 July, 11am – Primary care video library onboarding webinar. Health and Care Innovations are inviting NHS staff to join onboarding webinars which will provide an introduction to their video library and how to enable staff to maximise the use of videos right across the health system.

Nikki and Ed's link of the day 

Medical student creates handbook of clinical signs on black and brown skin