Primary Care Bulletin - today's round-up

24 February 2022

Dear colleagues,

Earlier this week the Prime Minister outlined the plan for Living with COVID-19. We have sent a letter to the system providing an initial update, which outlines the areas that are being reviewed and may change, and those areas that will remain the same. This includes guidance around NHS staff who test positive for Covid, testing amongst staff and patients, and visiting guidance for patients in NHS settings.

Healthcare staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 should not attend work until they have had two negative LFD test results taken 24 hours apart. The first test should not be taken before day 5 after their initial positive test. UKHSA will be updating the guidance for staff and patients exposed to COVID-19 and this will be posted on the UKHSA guidance pages today.

The letter also confirms that there are no immediate changes to infection prevention control (IPC) requirements. This includes the requirement for staff, patients and visitors to wear a mask/face covering in healthcare settings. The consistent application of IPC measures, alongside the roll out of the vaccine programme and staff and patient testing, remains the most effective defence against the entry and spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings. Communications resource are available to help reinforce this message within primary care settings.

We have also published a letter on the next steps for the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme alongside planning parameters which set out the current priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination programme for 2022/23, based on the central role of vaccination to the government’s strategy for Living with COVID-19, the latest government advice to deliver a spring dose for those most at risk, and to offer vaccination to five to 11-year-olds.

Supporting people on waitlists – My Planned Care public platform now live

We know that people waiting for elective care want to feel adequately informed and supported during this time and may contact their GP team for an update. In response, and as part of the Elective Recovery Plan, we have recently launched the first phase of the My Planned Care Patient Digital Platform.

This site provides people waiting for a hospital appointment, operation or treatment (excluding cancer) direct access to the latest wait-time information and support for all acute trusts across England. The platform is easy to access and navigate and is designed for patients who are on an NHS wait list, as well as their relatives, carers and supporting healthcare teams, including their primary care team.

The site will also be expanded to include the latest clinical guidance and details about locally available support to help people look after their health and well-being whilst they wait. There will be a wider ‘public’ launch in a few months’ time once the majority of trusts have had the opportunity to add their supporting details. A communications toolkit has been produced primarily for trusts to promote this service to patients, which includes a script for patient queries which GP teams may find useful.

Nikki and Ursula

COVID-19 updates

Living with Covid - Pharmacy collect LFT update

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that free mass testing will end from 1 April, the Pharmacy Collect service will end on 31 March. NHSEI, UKHSA and PSNC will work together on a smooth transition to the end of the service. 

UKHSA has confirmed that they continue to have good stock levels and will manage these to provide flexibility in future. Ahead of the end of free universal testing in England, it will be necessary for UKHSA to cap the number of tests distributed each day to manage demand.  Given that advice to test has and continues to reduce, the Government urges people only to order what they need. 

We will be in touch with pharmacy contractors with details about the service end, including information on final claims, test kits orders and deliveries as soon as those details have been finalised.

New PPE Portal platform

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in partnership with NHS Supply Chain, have implemented a new PPE Portal platform to ensure continued access to free PPE and related items for eligible users until the end of March 2023. All eligible users will have receive an invite over the coming weeks and months to ensure migration across to the new platform.

If you are an eligible user, you will have received email communications confirming timings for your migration. Starting the week commencing 28 February, we plan to upload GPs, dentists, and orthodontists to the portal, with pharmacies being added a week later. All other sectors will be uploaded later in March including ‘non-active users’. If you have questions regarding the migration to the new Portal, please contact our customer services team on 0800 876 6802. The team is available 7:00am to 7:00pm, 7 days a week.

Vaccination Data Resolution Service (VDRS) and Overseas Vaccines Validation Service

The NHS is encouraging people registered with a GP practice in England to check that their vaccination records are up to date. If a member of the public had their vaccinations in England but there is an error on their record, or they have an incomplete record, they should call 119 and ask to be referred to the VDRS.

Over 16s who have had one or more COVID-19 vaccinations abroad that are approved by the World Health Organisation can book an appointment at a vaccination site to show evidence of their vaccinations and request an update to their record. Anyone intending to use their NHS COVID Pass to travel should check their pass status before booking and call 119 if their record isn’t showing correctly. Queries relating to incorrect personal information on a patient record will still need to be resolved by their GP practice.

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – workspace

General practice

NHS Cervical Screening Programme - National Ceasing Audit

In 2021 GP practices were asked to audit patients ceased from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme from 1 April 2010 for ‘no cervix’ that did not receive a ceasing notification letter.

From 1 March 2022 the Cervical Screening Administration Service (CSAS) will start to reinstate patients whose GP practice did not respond to the request to complete phase 1 of the national ceasing audit of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Reinstating non-responders is the safest approach for this cohort of patients as their ceasing status has not been verified. 

Once reinstated these patients will appear on the PNL (Prior Notification List), accessed via Open Exeter. Practices will receive further communications on the timescales for when their patients will be reinstated as well as advice on any specific actions they need to take from their NHSEI Regional Commissioning Team or CCG in due course.

HPV 3 to 2 dose schedule change in the NHS national vaccination programme

From 1 April 2022 the HPV vaccination programme is moving from a 3 dose to 2 dose schedule for eligible adolescents and adults starting the course after they turn 15 years old, including men who have sex with men. This is with the exception of individuals known to be HIV infected or immunocompromised, who should continue to be offered the 3-dose schedule. The interval between doses for the 2-dose schedule should be 6-24 months after the first dose.

The bipartite letter provides further information and guidance. A revised Green Book chapter and PGD will also be published in due course to support this change.

Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) Local payment claim system

Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) Local is an online payment claim system commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement, which was designed to support the management of Local Enhanced Schemes between commissioners and primary care providers.

Several CCGs and GP practices have successfully used the system during a pilot which launched in April 2021, and we are now making this available to all CCGs. Once commissioners are set up on the system, GP Practices will be able to use it to submit their claims to obtain payment for local incentivised schemes (e.g. vaccination programmes, minor surgery Directed Enhanced Services). For more information about the system and the benefits it could bring, please visit the CQRS Local workspace. If you are interested in using the system to submit your claims online, do let your CCG know.

Get support for clinical system migrations

A new support page is available to help GP Practices, project leads and IT delivery partners who conduct GP clinical system migrations. It provides information about what standards apply to migrations, what issues to look out for and how to escalate them if necessary.

General practice - latest updates

Community pharmacy

Abbott recalls two infant formula powders because of the possible presence of Salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii

The MHRA is aware of a Food Standards Agency recall in relation to batches of Elecare Similac and Alimentum Similac infant formula powders. Abbott is recalling batches of Elecare Similac and Alimentum Similac infant formula powders because of the possible presence of salmonella. The MHRA urges healthcare professionals to contact all patients who have been dispensed the impacted batches immediately.

Those who have purchased or been prescribed any of the above product batches have been advised not to feed it to their baby and return to the place of purchase. If you have additional questions, please contact Abbott on 01795 580303.

New community pharmacy service to support patients with stop smoking journey after hospital discharge

Inpatients who start a stop smoking attempt in hospital will be able to be referred to a community pharmacy to continue their stop smoking journey once they are discharged. People can choose the community pharmacy they wish to be referred to and after referral, the pharmacist will meet with the person stopping smoking, or carry out consultations over the phone, to support their quit progress for 12 weeks.

The pharmacist will review the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) supplied by the hospital team, agree any adjustments with the person and provide ongoing supplies free of charge as required.

Pharmacy contractors can start registering to provide the Advanced Service from 1 March 2022. The service will start to be rolled out in community pharmacies across the country from 10 March 2022, supporting the implementation of the long term plan commitment that by March 2024, everyone admitted to hospital will be offered NHS funded tobacco treatment services.

Changes to FP34C

From 1 April 2022, for prescriptions dispensed on or after 1 March 2022, all pharmacy contractors must complete an FP34C submission via the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal.

The last paper FP34C has already been sent to contractors in February 2022 to be submitted in March 2022. From April 2022, you must complete your FP43C submission in MYS then print off a copy and send it in as you would usually do with your account. Failure to do so could result in a delay to your payment. Find out more on the NHSBSA website.

Medicines Delivery Service

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 (the ‘Self-Isolation Regulations), which provide the legal duty to self-isolate when notified as a positive case or non-exempt close contact, will expire on 24 February 2022.  The Government will also cease all support measures from this date. This means that from 24 February, the Trace Operational service will no longer provide CTAS numbers. A CTAS number is a unique code used to access the Medicine Delivery Service.

Pharmacy contractors can still make medicine deliveries to eligible patients who have a CTAS number issued on or before 23 February as long as the CTAS number is valid (i.e. during the maximum 10-day window for self-isolation). No medicine deliveries should be made as part of the Medicines Delivery Service after 5 March. Contractors should note that claims must be submitted no later than 5 April to be remunerated for any deliveries made on or before the 5 March 2022. The payment for the essential element of the medicine delivery service will continue until the end of March.

Pharmacy Quality Scheme

As part of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme 2021-22, community pharmacy contractors were asked to review their current practice using the Target Antibiotic Checklist over four weeks with a minimum of 25 patients; or up to eight weeks if the minimum number of patients are not achieved in four weeks.

Details are available of how many audit submissions each contractor has completed on the PHE/UKHSA portal up until 7 February 2022. 40% of total pharmacies had submitted data for the criterion by 7 February 2022, with 30% of total pharmacies have fully completed the criterion.

Contractors are asked to be vigilant with their data, as a number of incorrect email addresses have been used. Whilst these have been addressed for the published report, they will result in a failure to receive confirmation emails, and delays in confirming the number of submissions received.

Dentistry

General Dental Council announces full restart of the Overseas Registration Exam

Following its suspension in early 2020 due to COVID-19, the General Dental Council (GDC) has this week announced the restarting of the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE), which provides a route to registration in the UK for dentists with overseas qualifications.

Because part of the exam takes place in a clinical setting, COVID-19 restrictions over and above those in place for broader society, have prevented the regulator from restarting the exam until recently. The announcement this week however marks an important milestone in the recovery of international routes to registration. Further information is available from the GDC’s website.

Optometry

New series of ophthalmology information videos

28 new ophthalmology patient videos are available on HCI’s National Health and Care Video Library, helping to support an estimated 2 million people living with sight conditions.

Videos include ‘I have a problem with my eyes - where should I go?’, ‘What do I need to do when preparing for cataract surgery or other eye surgery?’ and ‘What should I do after glaucoma surgery and what if I have problems?’

These were developed by HCI with The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Torbay and South Devon NHS Ophthalmology Department, the National Outpatient Transformation and Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programmes, and a number of UK charities.

Primary care

PODCAST - Supporting autistic people in primary care

In our latest primary care podcast, learn more about what autism is, what it’s like to be autistic and how to make simple, reasonable adjustments within primary care.

Dr Anita Pearson, GP and National Speciality Advisor for Autism speaks with two people with lived experience: Aaron Senior who is autistic and Fazilla Amide, a family carer. Dr Pearson, Aaron and Fazilla provide some helpful ideas in terms of how to support autistic people and their families, provide some key facts around autism and some of the considerations around health inequalities and how you can make appointments go even more smoothly. They talk about how making reasonable adjustments for autistic people can be simple to do and can make a real difference to people’s health outcomes.

Cancer fear campaign

The NHS will be launching a new cancer campaign next week to encourage people who are experiencing potential signs of cancer to come forward earlier to their GP practice to help increase early diagnosis and improve outcomes. To do this, the campaign aims to address the key barrier to people seeking help, the fear around cancer diagnosis and increase awareness of the importance of body vigilance when it comes to bodily changes that could be a sign of cancer.

Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP)

On 14 February, we launched our latest campaign to increase referrals to the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP). The digital marketing campaign highlights the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes, such as excess weight and ethnicity.

Targeting at-risk populations, we have developed new assets featuring people of different ages, ethnicities and genders to extend our reach and maximise visits to the Know Your Risk tool. This allows individuals to assess their risk of developing type 2 diabetes – if they receive a moderate or high score, they are then signposted to local support through the NDPP.

Take part in the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) shared decision making survey

The PRSB has published a survey to gain feedback from professionals, including those in primary care, on its draft shared decision making information standard. The results will help inform the final information standard due to be published in Summer 2022. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. The information standard will support the process of shared decision making by capturing the discussion between person and clinician and making this information digitally shareable between different care settings, supporting safer, personalised care. The survey closes on 18 March 2022.

Evidence Based Interventions List 3 consultation open

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is currently running a consultation on List 3 of the Evidence-based Interventions programme and would like your feedback. The programme provides guidance on when it is and is not appropriate to carry out specific interventions, with the aim of improving the quality of care being offered to patients and optimising the use of NHS resources. List 3 is the latest phase of the programme and covers 17 interventions, across a range of specialisms.

The consultation will run until 31 March 2022 and will include several consultation events, divided by specialism. All relevant information, including how to submit a consultation response and register for the events, is available online. Please contact us at ebi@aomrc.org.uk, should you have any queries or access requirements.

DHSC consultation on the Provider Selection Regime

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published a consultation on the Provider Selection Regime. The proposed regime will be a new set of rules replacing the existing procurement rules for arranging health care services in England, proposed for introduction as part of the Health and Care Bill.

The consultation will run until 28 March 2022 and allows you to input on the development of the regulations which will set out the regime and asks for views on how to best implement it. DHSC are also hosting webinars for the consultation on the following dates which you can sign up to attend.

• 1 March 2pm - 3pm
• 3 March 10am - 11am
• 10 March 2pm - 3pm

Upcoming events and webinars

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

2 March, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. SPLW Series: Developing your SPLW workforce

2 March, 2pm – 3pm. PCC support - open dental contracting surgeries

3 March, 1.30pm – 3pm. Vaccinating the under 30s from underserved communities

3 March, 5pm – 6pm. General Practice webinar

8 March, 12pm – 1pm. Implementing the latest Lipid Management Pathway – a clinical perspective

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

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

Link of the Week

NHS x BMF Physical Activity Partnership - Live session with Bear Grylls