Primary Care Bulletin - this week's round-up

12 May 2022

Dear colleagues,

Today marks International Nurses Day and we want to focus our attention on our primary care nursing colleagues - general practice nurses, nursing associates, trainee nursing associates and healthcare support workers - who all play a critical role within Primary Care Networks, general practice teams, delivering care to patients as well as supporting and working with other members of the primary care team.

To amplify the importance of nurses in primary care, the ‘Here for Life’ campaign aims to empower nurses to tell their own stories to show the breadth and diversity of their roles and expertise. The campaign has been devised to support the launch of Enabling Professionalism 2022 – a new framework to help nurses confidently articulate who they are, what they do and what nursing ‘is’ in 2022.

It would be wonderful to see primary care nursing colleagues getting involved in this campaign, by sharing their own stories on social media and using the #HereForLife hashtag in posts. We appreciate everything you do and want to share your hard work and commitment.

Please also watch and share our trainee nursing associate video which showcases this crucial role.

This week is also Mental Health Awareness Week. The Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign is encouraging people to ‘Lift someone out of loneliness’, and offers NHS supported advice to help people who may be feeling lonely on the Every Mind Matters Loneliness webpage. There is also a Mind Plan quiz, to get a personalised mental health action plan with practical tips. Don’t forget, everyone working in primary care also has access to confidential coaching to support their wellbeing.

Nikki and Ursula

Dr Nikki Kanani
GP and Medical Director for Primary Care,
Deputy SRO, COVID-19 Vaccination Deployment Programme
NHS England and NHS Improvement

Dr Ursula Montgomery
GP and Interim Director for Primary Care NHS England and NHS Improvement

Looking after you: coaching for the primary care workforce >>

COVID-19 updates

NHS COVID Pass: Medical exemption application deadline

In line with government policy, from 12 May 2022 the domestic NHS COVID Pass will no longer be available. In line with this change, the medical exemptions service will no longer accept new applications from people who want to use the domestic NHS COVID Pass to prove they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. A doctor, specialist clinician or midwife will have until 11 July to process any applications received by 12 May.

The NHS COVID Pass for international travel will continue to be available as normal. More information about medical exemptions can be found on gov.uk.

COVID-19 vaccine fact cards available to help increase confidence and uptake

Fact cards featuring trusted health experts addressing common topics of concern about COVID-19 vaccines are available to support the promotion of vaccination and engagement with Black African and Black African Caribbean communities. Download the vaccination fact pack on the COVID-19 Vaccine Equalities Connect and Exchange Hub on FutureNHS, or email england.vaccination-equalities@nhs.net.

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – workspace

General practice

New referral form for NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme has received over 100,000 referrals from general practices. The programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.

To continue making referrals and to save time by ensuring more of the patient’s information auto-populates you should now use version 2 of the referral form which CCG IT teams are uploading onto your practice system. If your practice uses Ardens or DXS, version 2 is already available. You can also download the updated form. This video can also help practices refer patients through the e-referral system. Please contact the team if you have any queries.

Workforce data – reminder to PCNs and Practices
NHS Digital extract the latest general practice and PCN workforce data from the National Workforce Reporting Service (NWRS) at the end of each month. Practices and PCNs should log into their Strategic Data Collections Service (SDCS) account at least monthly to check and update their workforce details as necessary. The information gathered from the NWRS is crucial for planning new workforce supply, providing support to primary care (PC) teams and understanding staff capacity in general practice and so it is critical that the information you submit to NHS Digital about your staff is accurate and reflects any staffing changes.

Enhanced access webinar for PCNs - Wednesday 18 May

The first of a series of webinars focused on supporting PCNs to prepare to deliver the new enhanced access (EA) service from October 2022 will take place on Wednesday 18 May and Thursday 26 May. More dates will be added to the Future NHS workspace in due course. This site will also host relevant and supportive information such as guidance, FAQs, and webinar materials in one place as they become available.

Accessing HBVAXPRO vaccine used in the targeted neonatal hepatitis B immunisation programme

MSD vaccines have recently changed their wholesaler from AAH to Alliance Healthcare. Practices who have been unable to source HBVAXPRO vaccine used in the targeted neonatal hepatitis B immunisation programme where the doses required are monovalent hep B vaccine i.e. first, second and final (sixth) doses, should contact the new wholesaler: Alliance Healthcare Customer Services via phone: 0330 100 0448 or email customerservice@alliance-healthcare.co.uk.

General practice - latest updates

Dentistry

Your Dentistry and Oral Health Update

The latest Dentistry and Oral Health Update, published yesterday, is available to view online.

Webinar: Looking After Your Dental Team

If you feel like you want to talk to someone impartial about your wellbeing, the team you lead or your career, our ‘Looking After You’ coaching offers are available right now. Thousands of colleagues from across primary care have booked sessions and given positive feedback on their experience.

All coaching is free and confidential at a date and time that suits you. Please take some time to look after yourself and your colleagues as you continue to look after others. Do share this service with any colleagues you feel may benefit from support.

We are hosting a webinar to speak through the resources and how to support your dental team in more details on Thursday 26 May from 6.30pm – 7pm. Register now.

Community pharmacy

Free Shared Decision Making training available for community pharmacy

The Personalised Care Institute is offering free 30-minute courses on Shared Decision Making (SDM) for colleagues who wish to offer this service. Shared Decision Making allows patients to receive the expert advice and support they need in order to make the right decisions for their own personal health care, with support from their clinician.

SDM can form part of your reflective account for GPhC revalidation under standard one (pharmacy professionals must provide person-centred care) which is required from 1 October 2022.

Primary care

Help and support for patients waiting for a hospital appointment or operation

The My Planned Care website supports people waiting for a hospital appointment, operation or treatment, and gives them advice and support while they wait. This includes access to average waiting times at their hospital and other useful advice and local services.

Patients can check the website of their allocated hospital for any information they may need before contacting their hospital or GP practice. Carers, friends, relatives and NHS teams can also see this information and, if needed, help guide people through the detail.

The site is easy-to-use and updated weekly with other advice and information on how to manage pain, keeping healthy, looking after their mental health, accessing financial help and other local support services. The site can also help people to prepare for their appointment or operation, including practical suggestions about how to manage symptoms and help prevent these from getting worse.

NHS Volunteer Responders: suspension of direct patient support

Direct services to patients from NHS Volunteer Responders (NHSVR) will be suspended from 13 May 2022 as the programme refocuses on current health and care challenges. Information is available on NHSVR website.

NHS organisations and community pharmacies can continue to request NHSVR support for vaccination Steward Volunteers and NHS goods transport services. To help shape the future volunteer programme email: england.voluntarypartnerships@nhs.net using the subject line ‘NHSVR Engagement’.

Help improve the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

NHS Digital would like to talk to prescribers and dispensers across different care settings about their experience of using EPS, including any challenges. User feedback is essential to help inform future improvements and the next generation of the system. If you can spare some time to take part and provide your views, please sign up.

Upcoming events and webinars

April – May. Core20PLUS5 - reducing healthcare inequalities series covering the five clinical priority areas outlined within the Core20PLUS5 approach.

May – June. Community Pharmacist Consultation Service training for practices - Leading change - CPPE

April – June. Community Pharmacist Consultation Service training for practices- PCC

April – June. Demand and Capacity series designed to help gain a deeper and practical understanding of what demand and capacity are and the consequent issues that occur.

April – July. Public Participation online learning sessions about working with people and communities.

12 May. NHS Big Conversation for Improvement

17 May, 10am - 11.30am. Making a difference to young people’s lives through personalised care

17 May, 8pm - 9pm. Hot Topics Improving Asthma Care and Thinking Green Clinic