COVID-19 UPDATE BRIEFING DDLMC – 26.06.2020
NATIONAL UPDATES
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (Shielded) Patients. The government advice and letters to patients have produced a number of queries from confused patients. We have therefore produced a simple summary (Attachment A) which practices may wish to upload to their websites.
GP SOPs. NHSE have published updates to general practice SOPs . They have very helpfully highlighted the updated sections on Outbreak Management, Hospital Discharge and Cancer referrals.
LOCAL UPDATES
Phlebotomy update. The CCG have provided an update:
Please can practices support communications to patients so that “walk in patients” can be advised that they need to attend Ilkeston instead of Heanor from Monday 29th June and also encourage patients to use Swift queue for their appointments. Swift queue will be updated to advise that Heanor will be pre-bookable appointments only in future.
For Derby City practices, DHU are still offering childrens’ blood tests (need to ring DHU for the appointment as previously) 1-3pm on Monday and 8-10am on Tuesday at the Walk in Centre. Also, to note that DHU does have capacity to see adults Wed 4-7pm and Saturday and Sunday mornings 8am-12pm and Adult appointments are all ‘walk in’ at present.
DDCCG Membership Briefing. The next briefing by Dr Chris Clayton is on Tuesday 30th June at 13:30 and if you have any issues that you would like to raise or any suggestions for things you would like Chris to cover please e-mail clive.newman3@nhs.net . The link for the meeting is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89872894587?pwd=bHNvOS9RUkx5M0x4VlpFUXlHdXJndz09
Meeting ID: 898 7289 4587 Password: 082827
Derbyshire LPC Update. Jackie Buxton has asked us to share the local pharmacy update (Attachment B). You will see many problems and issues are not unique to general practice.
OTHER UPDATES
Post COVID-19 Patient information. We have found this really useful practical guide for patients that practices might want to use.
NHSE Letter about Staff Risk Assessments. You will no doubt have seen the reports in the press about the lack of completed risk assessments for staff in some areas. NHSE have sent out a reminder about the need for primary care to have completed them, particularly for higher risk staff. While we are sure that practices in Derbyshire will have done these, this is a gentle reminder. We are also engaged with the CCG to ensure that the locally commissioned service through UHDB is accessible and has sufficient capacity. Unfortunately, as you know that service is only funded for GPs and as it stands at the moment, practices will need to pay for access to the service if they wish to use it for other staff groups. We continue to lobby both locally and nationally for this to be funded for all staff.
AND FINALLY…
As lockdown eases, I’ve been invited to an archaeology party where they are looking for the remains of a lower leg. It promises to be a real shindig.
The flat Earth Society is reporting that the 6 foot social distancing measures are pushing some of their members over the edge.
And sad to report the Obituary to Common Sense, printed in the Times:
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair; and
- Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
- Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for doing nothing
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
RIP
Have a lovely weekend and please don’t go to Bournemouth Beach, to join with those who had visited, complaining about how dangerous it was and how it was going to lead to another spike in Coronavirus cases. You couldn’t make it up.