COVID-19 UPDATE BRIEFING DDLMC – 22.05.2020
STOP PRESS
Bank Holiday Monday. Is still a bank holiday (as far as we know) and we hope everyone manages to get some downtime to enjoy the weather.
Today’s update is a bit of an Attachment and link overload I’m afraid, but I hope you find it useful. We are reviewing the frequency of these updates and if you have strong views please let us know.
NATIONAL UPDATES
NHSE Primary Care Update. NHSE have reported that some unwell patients are being redirected to NHS 111 by their GP practice when calling for advice in hours. Dr Nikki Kanani stated “The GP Standard Operating Procedure will be amended to make it clear that this should not happen and if patients with symptoms of COVID-19 contact their GP practice, they should be assessed rather than directed to NHS 111. This is to prevent unwell patients deteriorating due to delays in accessing medical help.”
There are a couple of upcoming webinars that practices may find useful:
Tuesday 26 May, 5-6pm - Update on Direct Booking into General Practice from NHS 111 & CCAS via GP connect . Presenters include Dr Phil Koczan, GP and Digital Clinical Champion and Michelle McDermott, GP Connect Lead
Wednesday 27 May, 12.30-1:30pm - The PCN DES: discussion for the undecided . Presenters include Dr Richard Vautrey, Chair, BMA General Practice Committee (GPC), Dr Tayo Kufeji, GP and Clinical Director for The Bridge PCN, Ed Waller, Director for Primary Care Strategy and NHS Contracts, NHS E & NHS I, Dr Josephine Sauvage, Chair, NHS Islington CCG.
LOCAL UPDATES
Urgent update on F Calprotectin. The lab that CRH and UHDB refer F calprotectins to has suspended the service due to the presence of the COVID-19 virus in faeces and the likelihood of creating aerosols during the sample preparation process. A limited replacement service has been identified but you are urged to discuss the urgency of the need for investigation with the Duty Biochemist (CRH 01246 512212, UHDB 01332 789383) before requesting any samples. More details (Attachment 1).
Mental Health Services Update. The following are available to during Covid-19:
- The new DHcFT Mental Health Support Line tel: 0300 790 0596 (7 days a week 9am – midnight) and provides support for people of all ages.
- IAPT is still supporting people, on a remote basis. Further information including how to refer can be found here .
- A Targeted Community Intervention Triage (TICT) has been set up to triage people up to the age of 18 with low to moderate mental health needs to a range of services providing counselling support. To refer, please access this link: TICT Referral Form , and for further information please see the COVID-19 section within this link .
- Free online counselling from accredited counsellors is available with no referral needed. Kooth is for 11-25 year olds and Qwell is for parents and carers who have a child aged under 18 years old.
- Self-help, wellbeing and other support information is available for people all of ages and professionals via the Derby and Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing website with further information for adults available on the Joined Up Care Derbyshire website .
UHDB Services Reintroduced Via MS Teams. From 1 June UHDB will be restarting Virtual MDT’s using Microsoft Teams (they will send out links to the meetings and you will need to have a Teams account to join. This can be created at the point you join the meeting). The specific meetings will be at the same time, day and frequency as previously agreed and you are requested to forward the invite within your practice to anyone who wishes to join the meeting. UHDB still request that patients are referred a week in advance to aid the smooth running of the meeting. Any queries to Robin Evans, Clinical Service Manager on 01332 788225 / 07825 450984 / Robin.Evans1@nhs.net
Support for Carers
- Carers Service - Derby City. Citizens Advice Mid Mercia (CAMM) have been commissioned to deliver Universal Services for Carers in Derby City. This is a free, confidential and impartial service dedicated solely to the holistic support of informal carers. Additional information (Attachment 2) and a referral form (Attachment 3). CAMM contact details: 01332 228777 (09:00-17:00, Mon-Fri, excluding public holidays), carers@citizensadvicemidmercia.org.uk http://www.citizensadvicemidmercia.org.uk/carers/
- Support from Derbyshire Carers Association Aposter (Attachment 4) from Derbyshire Carers Association about support available to carers which practices may wish to share/display in waiting rooms.
- Sharing Local Recruitment Solutions Skills for Care is working together with the Local Government Association, the Care Provider Alliance and ADASS and want to hear about any local solutions that have resulted in the recruitment of people returning to work in social care, students in their final year of study who are starting their career in social care early, volunteers and people coming from other sectors. See Attachment 5. randr@skillsforcare.org.uk
Covid-19 Mobile Testing Units. There are two new pop up MTUs to provide swabbing facilities which are accessed through the national self-referral portal:
- 25-28 May Grin Low and Buxton Country Park, Buxton SK17 6UJ.
- 29 May - 1 June Showcase Cinema, Foresters Business Park, Sinfin Lane, Derby DE23 8AG.
These MTUs are not linked to the two dedicated sites currently located at Toyota (Burnaston) and ProAct Stadium (Chesterfield).
“CUES” (COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service) The Minor Eye Conditions (MEC) service has been renamed CUES in line with NHSE/I specification, with no changes to the pathway. Attachment 7 contains the detail including red flag information for GPs and seeking some (informal) feedback and updated patient literature.
OTHER UPDATES
Live Life Better Derbyshire Stop Smoking Service. The Secretary of State and CMO have highlighted that smokers are at increased risk from COVID-19. Smoking harms the immune system and reduces the body’s natural protection against infections (inc COVID-19). Smokers are at greater risk of, getting acute respiratory infections, which may last longer and be more serious than for a non-smoker. Details of the updated Derbyshire Live Life Better stop smoking service information are at Attachment 6.
As part of this initiative you may wish to consider a text message campaign to your patients who smoke using an example text such as: If you smoke, you have an increased risk of severe illness with COVID-19. Your doctor would like you to stop smoking as soon as possible. Contact Live Life Better Derbyshire Stop Smoking Service on 0800 085 22 99 to access telephone/digital support and medication to quit smoking.
Schools. As the possible opening date for schools on 1st June approaches we thought you might find this (Attachment 8) useful if parents contact you.
Meds Management Update. The link to the latest Derbyshire Medicines Management bulletin is here.
LMC Webinar We are hosting our fortnightly webinar on Wednesday 27th May at 11:00. We have a CQC inspector joining us to expand on the new Emergency Support Framework which we hope will be useful. e are experimenting with Microsoft Teams so please use this link to join Join Microsoft Teams Meeting Here
AND FINALLY…
Following my post on Wednesday - As Captain Darling once said – “I made a note in my diary – simply said B****r…….”
A massively overwhelming response and a huge thank you. Not too late to donate to MIND Derbyshire on virgin money giving here.
And if we get to £2500 I will wear it to run in…………….Just saying!