Primary Care Bulletin - today's round-up

4 March 2022

CORRECTION: please use this version of the 4 March bulletin. The bulletin sent earlier today contained an email address that was incorrect. Please use the NHS email below for offers of support.

Dear colleagues,

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues, we look on in horror and sadness at the unfolding reports. On Saturday Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, wrote to all Ukrainian health and care staff in the UK.

We stand by our Ukrainian and Russian primary care colleagues in this country and overseas, who are working under incredible pressures to care for their communities during these troubling times. Our health and wellbeing resources are readily available if any of our colleagues are finding things difficult. A range of bespoke support and guidance is on hand and we encourage you to use it if you need to.

A national effort is underway to provide support to Ukraine and to ensure the NHS stands ready to provide further support as needed. Organisations across the NHS and the health and care sector as a whole will be keen to help. In order to coordinate this help, to avoid creating disruption or duplication, please submit offers of assistance to England.incident14@nhs.net. 

The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator have urged the public to ‘give safely’ to registered charities as people make generous donations to causes helping to support and protect people affected by the invasion of Ukraine. The Disasters Emergency Committee, a coalition of 15 leading UK charities, has launched its collective appeal to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to civilians suffering during the conflict.

Nikki and Ursula

COVID-19 updates

Isolation note service

On 21 February, the Prime Minister announced that from 24 February self-isolation would no longer be a legal requirement in England. New guidance has been published here.

The NHS isolation note service will continue to operate until at least April 2022. The site, which provides individuals with an isolation note for COVID-19 infection, has been updated with an additional banner that alerts individuals that rules on self-isolation are changing. This banner contains links to the most up to date advice on staying at home or self-isolating across the four nations.

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – workspace

General practice

General practice contract arrangements in 2022/23 

We have written to commissioners and GP practices  this week outlining contractual arrangements for 2022/23. The contract for the year ahead is based on what was agreed with GPC England in Investment and Evolution in 2019/20 and these minimal updates are designed to give general practice stability and enable a focus on recovering services for patients. GPC England were consulted with on the 22/23 contract which includes investment in workforce and leadership, offering patients earlier checks for cancer and heart conditions, access to more mental health practitioners and additional support for long-term conditions.

New report published on the role and value of general practice nurses (GPNs) in England

Sonnet, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, has published the results of their detailed research into the role of GPNs. Drawing on case studies and evidence from nurses themselves, this ground-breaking research articulates the role and value of GPNs in the context of an evolving NHS and increasing demographic challenges.

Launch of the Digital Journey Planner: communication module

The Digital Journey Planner (DJP) is a web-based self-assessment tool designed to help practices assess their current use and understanding of technology, discover new digital opportunities, solve issues and receive a practice specific implementation plan to help the practice and their patients get the best out of digital technology. The DJP was developed by Redmoor Health, but we have commissioned a number of modules for general practice.

The first module to be launched is ‘Patient Communication’, which includes help and advice about practice websites, social media and messaging (eg. SMS), these are key areas of focus for improving access. To support the launch of the DJP webinars are being held on various dates.

Outbreak of extensively drug resistant (XDR) Shigella sonnei detected in the UK

62 cases of XDR S. sonnei have been detected throughout the UK since September 2021. Infections are transmitted sexually in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Half of interviewed cases presented to A&E, 23% were hospitalised. This strain is resistant to all first line agents used for treatment for prolonged symptoms or severe shigellosis.

Primary care plays a fundamental role in early detection of infection: please take sexual history of male cases with acute gastroenteritis, request stool cultures and antibiotic sensitivity if MSM, and, if treatment is indicated, discuss confirmed cases with the microbiologist.

Antibiotic resistant strains of Gonorrhoea detected in England

Four cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea were detected in England in December 2021 and January 2022. Ceftriaxone is the last line empirical therapy for gonorrhoea, so the detection of these cases is a concern. Ceftriaxone-resistant strains have occasionally been detected previously, always associated with overseas travel. General practitioners play a key role in providing sexual health care and are recommended to refer suspected or confirmed cases of gonorrhoea to their local sexual health service for treatment (ceftriaxone 1g IM), management and partner notification. Testing for gonorrhoea and other STIs is also available through self-sampling services such as freetest.me and SH:24.

Entitlement to NHS Primary Medical Care

Some practice websites are currently displaying messaging advising that temporary residents may be charged to access GP services when visiting from abroad and referencing reciprocal health care arrangements. Practices are reminded that NHS primary medical care is free and accessible to all and reciprocal health care arrangements are not relevant. We are asking all GP practices to review their practice website and ensure that it does not include any reference to charging temporary residents for NHS primary medical care services. More information is available in the Primary Care Policy and Guidance Manual.

Reducing carbon footprint of inhaler prescribing

The 'How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Inhaler Prescribing' guide from Greener Practice, endorsed by Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, is one resource that can support healthcare professionals to safely and effectively reduce the carbon footprint of inhaler prescribing in collaboration with patients.

Next Generation GP Podcast

The Next Generation GP leadership programme has a monthly podcast interviewing inspiring leaders in the NHS and beyond. The latest episode is an interview with Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation and former Non-Executive Director at NHS England. Victor talks about why reducing health inequalities should be our top priority in the NHS, what we need to do about improving racial diversity in NHS leadership, and shares some reflections, lessons, and advice from his own leadership journey.

General practice - latest updates

Community pharmacy

NHS Discharge Medicines Service IT funding for Trusts

NHS England and NHS Improvement is making funding available so that all acute, community and mental health NHS trusts can support NHS Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) IT solutions or software licences. This will enable more community pharmacies to receive DMS referrals in an electronic structured message instead of a more manual route (e.g. by NHSmail message) and is expected to increase the overall volume of DMS referrals.  

2022 Pharmacy Access Scheme (PhAS) – final reminder

The extended review application window closes at midnight on 4 March 2022. This has enabled contractors who meet all other eligibility criteria except distance to apply for review on the grounds of inaccuracies in pharmacy premises location or physical feature route anomalies (e.g. a semi-permanent roadblock or steep hill). Decisions from the relevant PSRCs are to be made and communicated to contractors by the end of May 2022.

Primary care

Get involved: NHS primary care staff wanted for photography and case studies

We are keen to feature as many roles as we can, with a focus on including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy counter staff; dentists, dental nurses and dental receptionists; optometrists; GPs and GP receptionists.  

If you work in a multidisciplinary team, we also want to hear from you. This includes care navigators; dieticians; podiatrists; occupational therapists; first contact physiotherapists; paramedics; social prescribing link workers; care coordinators; health and wellbeing coaches; physician associates; nursing associates and mental health practitioners.

The photoshoot will be held in London and reasonable travel expenses will be covered. Please email nhs@23red.com ASAP to express your interest and receive a form to complete. Completed forms must be received by 12pm on Monday 14 March 2022.

New campaign to combat the fear of cancer

We have launched a new phase of the ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign taking a radically different approach to detecting cancer earlier for patients, when it is easier to treat. The campaign aims to address the barriers to people coming forward early by encouraging those who have noticed something in their body that doesn’t feel right and are worried it could be cancer to contact their GP practice.

The campaign is running in March and is the first ‘Help Us, Help You’ cancer campaign to focus on tackling the ‘fear’ of cancer rather than specific symptoms. Campaign materials can be downloaded from the Campaign Resource Centre.

Flu vaccine reimbursement guidance 2022/23

In line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and Department of Health and Social Care advice, we have published information about reimbursable vaccines and eligible cohorts for the 2022/23 NHS Seasonal Influenza (flu) Vaccination Programme. The flu vaccine reimbursement guidance sets out the planned cohorts and vaccines that will be reimbursed for 2022/23.

National service model for an integrated community stroke service (ICSS) 

The integrated community stroke service (ICSS) is part of the National Stroke Service model, coordinating transfer of care of stroke survivors from hospital, and providing home-based stroke rehabilitation through a specialist multidisciplinary team structure. The ICSS is an integrated seven days per week service, providing early supported discharge, high-intensive and needs-based community stroke rehabilitation and disability management, with extended pathways for 6-month reviews and longer-term support in the community. Read the full model.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards 2022 – nominations now open

Now in its fifth year, the NHS Parliamentary Awards have been an overwhelming success with over 450 Members of Parliament, representing constituencies in England, nominating an individual or organisation for an award, almost half of all eligible MPs.

These awards also provide an excellent opportunity for health and care organisations to engage with their local MPs, tell them about the work they do, and build or strengthen ongoing relationships. Nominations close at midnight on Wednesday 6 April 2022.

Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Women Primary Care Sponsorship Programme

If you’re a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic woman in primary care who is committed to developing their career and leadership potential, or are a leader who wants to recognise and support the potential of BAME women, you can apply to a proactive and groundbreaking sponsorship programme. Eleven ICS areas across the Midlands are committed to addressing the lack of representation of female BAME leaders, predominantly from primary care settings. You will learn how to use your connections and influence to actively support your sponsees career development. This could include helping them to extend their network, make connections, identify opportunities and personally advocating for them. Applications close 28 March and the programme begins on 7 April 2022.

Upcoming events and webinars

Various dates, March. Getting ready for patients to have access to their future data. For GPs / operational staff and primary care commissioners.

8 March, 5pm – 6pm. Dermatology Transformation webinar

8 March, 8pm – 9pm. General Practice Referrals to the NHS Community Pharmacy Consultation Scheme – update on progress and top tips

10 March, 6pm – 8pm. Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists – invitation for Community Pharmacy. We are keen to work collaboratively with employers to ensure that future prescriber training offers are aligned to workforce need.

11 March, from 11am. NHS Charities Together online remembrance event

15 March, 10 – 11.30am. Personal health budget community of practice. This session will focus on step six of the implementation framework - monitoring, review and evaluation.

15 March, 1pm – 2.30pm. FeNO Learning Collaborative

16 March, 1.30 – 2.30pm. Volunteer befriending, creating connection

22 March, 11am – 12pm. An introduction to working with people and communities

22 March, 5pm – 6pm. Dermatology Transformation webinar

23  March, 7pm – 8pm. New Pathway for Uncontrolled Asthma

24 March, 10am – 11am. New guidance on working with people and communities

30 March, 10am – 11am. Inspire, Engage, Motivate: Engaging patients as volunteers

30 March, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Social Prescribing Data processes/evidence and impact

Link of the Week

Institute for Government: general practice performance tracker 2021