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Primary Care Bulletin - today's round-up
23 December 2021
Dear colleagues,
The herculean effort to get patients vaccinated to protect them from COVID continues. Almost 700,000 vaccination appointments are still up for grabs across the country this week. The innovation deployed to reach as many people as possible continues, with town criers, buses in shopping centres and pop-ups in curry houses, and is amazing to see.
Yesterday the government accepted updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the vaccination of children and young people. For children aged between 5-11 years. The JCVI also advises that booster vaccination should also be offered to some young people between 12-17 years old. We will work to put plans in place to deliver these updated recommendations in a safe and effective way. Further details on the announcement and next steps can be found in this letter.
Following the government changes to the isolation period on testing positive for COVID-19, we have written to systems to outline what this means for staff.
Combined adult and paediatric respiratory clinical assessment service (RCAS) hubs for acute respiratory infection
We have today published guidance to support systems in planning for any rise in respiratory infections, including guidance on setting up out of hospital Respiratory Clinical Assessment Service (RCAS) hubs for face-to-face assessment of patients with symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory infection. The Winter Access Fund can be used to support the creation of RCAS hubs, and many systems are exploring this option.
Stay safe and have a lovely festive break if you can.
Nikki and Ed
Dr Nikki Kanani
GP and Medical Director for Primary Care,
Deputy SRO, COVID-19 Vaccination Deployment Programme
NHS England and NHS Improvement
Ed Waller
Director for Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement
COVID-19 updates
Government announces purchase of 4.25 million antiviral doses
On 22 December, the Government announced the procurement of 4.25 million additional doses of antivirals to treat COVID-19. The monoclonal antibody Sotrovimab and the antiviral Molnupiravir has already been rolled out by the NHS to the highest risk patients – information for GPs is available in the letter issued by NHS England.
The Government has indicated that any wider deployment of antivirals will be following the national PANORAMIC study which is collecting evidence on the effectiveness of those drugs in the UK's primarily vaccinated population. The study was launched to allow medical experts to gather further data on the potential benefits these treatments bring to vaccinated patients and will help the NHS to develop plans for rolling out the antivirals to further patients next year. Those over the age of fifty or are particularly vulnerable to COVID can sign up to the national study.
General practice
Updated general practice communications toolkit
Following the release of the general practice access routes campaign resources, we have updated the general practice communications toolkit. Please download and use this toolkit to support you in communicating to patients on how best to access services.
One-off personal health budgets available to support discharge from hospital
These one-off personal health budgets (PHBs) aim to support early and safe discharge from hospital. They enable people to access personalised care and support when their needs cannot be met through existing commissioned services or unpaid care. The PHB should enable earlier discharge by at least two days and be agreed between patient and/or carer and the person responsible for the discharge. This PHB model is aligned to the Hospital Discharge Policy and Operating Model and will most likely apply to patients in discharge pathways 0 and 1.
Further information can be found within this guidance. A guidance pack and case studies are also available on FutureNHS (login required). Please email the personal health budgets team with any queries.
Health inequalities and general practice – new podcast
A new podcast focusing on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) GP Inequalities Project is available now. Dr Bola Owolabi, Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, joins CQC colleagues to discuss what is meant by health inequalities, why these need to be addressed and the role of providers, systems and regulators in reducing them.
Primary care
Online NHS directory helps find most appropriate service for patients
If you’re looking to direct or sign post a patient to another NHS service, NHS Service Finder provides fast, accurate online information about local health and social care services. It enables healthcare professionals to signpost patients to the most appropriate care, removing the need to use outdated directories.
You can search by location, service, or keyword, and receive instant results. There are even interactive maps to show you where services are located and directions which can be shared directly with patients. Sign up for this free service using your NHSmail address or for more information contact the service finder team.
Upcoming events and webinars
January – March 2022 (multiple dates). CPCS workshops with RPS & RCGP
5 January, 1pm – 2.30pm. National Social Prescribing Link Worker Webinar Series: Looking after yourself and accepting and responding to change
13 January, 5pm – 6pm. General Practice webinar
18 January, 10am – 11.30am. Personal health budget community of practice
19 January, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Social Prescribing Link Worker Learning and Development Webinar Series: Tackling Health Inequalities
Link of the Week
