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DAILY COVID-19 BRIEFING DDLMC 25.3.2020

KEY MESSAGES FOR TODAY

JOINT DDLMC/ GPA / GPTF / DCHS COVID RESPONSE TEAM

Attached are a suite of resources for practices to use for EOL Palliative care including in Care Homes.

The long-term wellbeing of everyone in general practice is paramount and the Team have delivered a range of resources which are in the attached update. Most notably we have signed up for Thrive Mental Wellbeing, a clinically effective app for the prevention, screening and management of anxiety, depression and stress. This is free to access for all staff and the full details are included.

NATIONAL UPDATES

  • National Daily PM briefings. Matt Hancock Secretary of State for Health led the press conference and announced:
    • Almost 12,000 recently retired NHS staff had responded to the call to return to the service. They included 2,660 doctors, more than 2,500 pharmacists and other staff and 6,147 nurses, he said. And some 5,500 final-year medics and 18,700 final-year student nurses will “move to the frontline” next week.
    • A temporary 4,000-bed hospital – the “NHS Nightingale Hospital” – will be opening at London’s ExCel centre next week. Further centres are being considered in Manchester and Birmingham.
    • The launch of an NHS Volunteers Scheme goodsamapp.org/NHS inviting up to 250,000 people to volunteer to contribute to the fight against coronavirus, for shopping, for the delivery of medicines and to support those who are shielding to protect their own health.
    • The government has bought 3.5m antibody testing kits for critical staff, and a new testing facility in Milton Keynes has opened. He said:
    • 7.5m pieces of protective equipment including facemasks had been shipped out in the last 24 hours.
  • Indemnity. GPC have confirmed that all NHS Activity in support of COIVD-19 will be covered by existing arrangements. All clinicians are covered for any NHS activity under CNSGP. In addition, the emergency legislation also provides for indemnity for any clinician working in response to COVID-19. (This is effectively duplication since already covered by CNSGP). Finally, any GP who has current professional protection via their MDO will continue to be covered fully and they don’t have to do anything more.

OTHER UPDATES

  • Pharmacy Updates. A few things today from re pharmacies:
    • Please see attached update from the LPC detailing the measures they are taking to manage the large increase in demand, including changed opening hours etc.
    • Response to query to NHSE about Macmillan Nurses requesting just in case meds for all patients. At the present time continue to prescribe as you normally would on a case by case basis – only prescribe anticipatory meds as you usually would. These prescriptions for end of life medication can be taken to any community pharmacy for dispensing. Any deviance from this policy will take unnecessary stock out of the fragile pharmaceutical supply chain, which may result in patients who need these drugs not having access to them at the right time. FAQs on end of life / anticipatory prescribing will be shared shortly. NICE rapid guidance on COVID-19 and EoL is expected to be published on 27th March 2020.
  • Asthma society have produced some very useful guidance for high risk asthma patients which you may wish to use/share. https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/#Advice
  • Local Community Resources. Derbyshire County Council has set up a Community Response Unit and Derby City Council has set up a Community Resources Hub to coordinate volunteer responses. You might want to share the links on your practice comms or consider using for things such as staff childcare.
  • Easter Opening. No details yet about whether this will be required and if it is required whether it will be full opening, but we strongly suggest you start planning for a full service and/or a hub working model. As soon as we know more, we will share with you.

LOCAL ACTIONS/GUIDANCE FOR THE NEXT 24 hours

  • We are continuing to finesse the daily survey and try and reduce duplication of reporting. A big thank you to everyone who filled in the survey today as it is giving us strong evidence about the scale of the workforce problems.
  • Support practices in the management of Extremely vulnerable patients, particularly in the Category C Group 4 (those who need to be identified and contacted by the practice).

KEY MESSAGES FOR THE PUBLIC

STAY AT HOME. There 4 very specific reasons why you can go out but otherwise you should stay at home.

If you are self-isolating, then SELF-ISOLATE which means that you must not leave your home if you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or live with someone who does. If you are self-isolating, you must:

  • not leave your home for any reason, other than to exercise once a day – but stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people
  • not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home
  • not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home

You can use your garden, if you have one.

AND FINALLY

for those who dialed into the webinar today and I will produce a set of FAQs that were raised. As I mentioned toady please also accept my apolgies if our correspondence and e-mails are not ups to our usual high standrads of garmmar and speling.

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