COVID-19 UPDATE BRIEFING DDLMC – 11.05.2020
**STOP PRESS**
GP Approach to Risk Assessment for staff (inc BAME staff). In response to emerging evidence that suggests particular groups are more vulnerable from face to face exposure of COVID-19, the GP Alliance have updated the risk stratification guidance. (Attachment #1). This is an advisory document on how GP practices as employers may choose to carry out risk assessments to keep staff safe. This includes staff returning to work for the NHS, and existing staff who are potentially more at risk due to their race, age, disability or pregnancy. This advice is in an interim basis awaiting publication by NHS Employers and/or NHSE and has been agreed by the Primary Care Leadership group.
CCG Place leads will collate implications of the risk assessment from practices to highlight to the Primary Care Leadership any areas of support required. Similar risk assessments are also being carried out by local NHS Acute and Community Trusts in Derbyshire and other service providers as appropriate.
NATIONAL UPDATES
Death in Service. A GP’s guide to the NHS pension scheme’s death in service benefit . Krishan Aggarwal from the BMA details the current work arounds for DiS benefit for GP locums.
LOCAL UPDATES
Learning Disability Health Checks. Message from Hannah Belcher, Assistant Director GP Commissioning and Development, DDCCG. “We understand that NHS England is working on updated guidance for Learning Disability health checks during the COVID-19 restrictions. Whilst we are waiting for the updated guidance from NHS England, practices can complete the health checks remotely e.g. by video call or telephone call:
For the physical part of the check-up:
- Patients could be asked to let GP Practices know their weights if they have them at home,
- Check any concerns regarding hearing/feet or asked to send in photos of their feet or doing a check via video,
- deferring BP checks if they don't have BP machines at home to a time when we are resuming normal services.
- Deferring ear/ wax checks”
OTHER UPDATES
Reminder – DDLMC PCN DES Webinar. Zoom dial in for Wednesday 13th May at 11am.
The PCN session will be the first part and then will be followed by Q&As and then our usual GP Practice and LMC information session followed by COVID Q&As. All welcome to join.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86487886736?pwd=N0hLT0lvZ0ozZk12ODd5dEVid0FKUT09
Meeting ID: 864 8788 6736
Password: 077023
Primary Care Direct - Virtual Practice Manager’s Huddle. Wednesday 20 May at 15.30. Led by practice managers, James Davies (Amicus Healthcare) and Tracy Dell (Plane Trees Group Practice), come together and hear from other PMs across the country about what it's like working in general practice at the moment. Email to book: info@primarycaredirect.co.uk
GP CCT Trainee Scheme. BMA update for GP trainees future training and their CCT (certificate of completion of training) here .
Support for GP Specialty Training. Letter from HEE to GP trainees and GP educators.
The Queen’s Nursing Institute in conjunction with a group of Derbyshire colleagues have developed a set of bridging competencies for Primary Care nurses who may be able to support community teams. Please see link .
End of May Bank Holiday. NHSEI have stated that unless the situation changes significantly it will not be necessary for GP practices to open on the next bank holiday at the end of May.
Action for Hearing Loss. Tips for communicating with people who are deaf or have hearing loss in the context of COVID-19. (Attachment #2)
Advice for people experiencing voice problems post COVID-19. (Attachment #3)
PUBLIC MESSAGES
Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. Published today here . More to follow in the coming days on key messages for General Public.
AND FINALLY…
I took the shell off my racing snail, thinking it would make him run faster.
If anything, it made him more sluggish….