DDLMC WEEKLY UPDATE 27th August 2020
NATIONAL UPDATES
Infection Prevention and Control. The national guidance has been updated and the main changes are:
- Local/national prevalence/incidence data will be used to guide returning services.
- Patients to be managed in 3 COVID-19 pathways, high, medium and low risk.
- Sessional use of single use PPE items has been minimised and only applies to extended use of facemasks for healthcare workers.
- The use of facemasks (for staff) and face coverings (if tolerated by the individual) is recommended for staff and patients in both clinical and non-clinical areas.
- Physical distancing of 2 metres is considered standard practice in all health and care settings.
- Patients/individuals on a low risk pathway require Standard Infection Prevention & Control Precautions for surgery or procedures.
The following will also aid planning for flu clinics:
- In some clinical outpatient settings, such as vaccination/injection clinics, where contact with individuals is minimal, the need for single use PPE items for each encounter, for example, gloves and aprons is not necessary. Gloves and aprons are recommended when there is (anticipated) exposure to blood/body fluids or non-intact skin. Staff administering vaccinations/injections must apply hand hygiene between patients and wear a sessional facemask.
The link to the document is here here and Derbyshire LMC like to think that our comments last week lead to the significant reduction in the number of links in the narrative and the line on page 7 that states “Links can be accessed in the resources below.”
Mask exemption letters for air travel. We are aware of some airlines that are still asking for letters from GPs for mask exemption. To restate our previous guidance, this is not required as per the government advice. There are resources available for individuals to produce their own exemption cards, if they chose to do so, and practices may wish to signpost patients to these which are here.
Seasonal Flu Vaccine. The Specialist Pharmacy Service has produced “Additional Advice to GP Practices on the Administration of the seasonal Flu Vaccine” which practices may find useful (Attachment A).
LOCAL UPDATES
Bringing Back Staff Campaign. At the start of the pandemic the NHS ran a campaign to get recently retired clinical staff back into work. They still have a list of these staff who have completed pre-employment checks and have clinical expertise that could be utilised in the Flu Immunisation Programme. If you are looking for additional capacity, please contact Hazel Jones, Senior Project Officer at Joined Up Careers hazel.jones@derbyhsire.gov.uk or on 07973625109.
NHS Continuing Health Care – Fast Track referrals. We have been asked by the CCG to share to share that the fast track referrals for CHC will recommence on 1st September 2020. The CCG letter, fast track assessment form and guidance are attached. (Attachments B, C and D).
CCG Virtual Discussion. Sent on behalf of Dr Avi Bhatia, Chair of NHS Derby and Derbyshire CCG.
“As we progress through the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic it is really important that the voice of primary care is clearly heard and along with the senior team at NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group I am very keen to ensure opportunities are created to facilitate dialogue with GP colleagues.
We are offering two virtual discussion opportunities between 2.00 and 2.30 on 9 and 16 September which coincide with your protected learning time sessions. I will be accompanied by Dr Chris Clayton, CEO of the CCG along with GP members of the CCG Governing Body and we will be hosting a discussion to update you on latest developments and to listen to what matters most to colleagues in primary care. We are very grateful to LMC colleagues who have provided us with Zoom log in details for each date and these are as follows:
Link and details for the 9th September - callers can log in from13:30:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86229683706?pwd=Uk1aZWhLOWlTaVpKdDZ4WXdJUnlIZz09
Meeting ID: 862 2968 3706
Passcode: 684182
Link and details for the 16th September - callers can log in from13:30:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82024397353?pwd=ajA3eitLQU50M3RBVTBjWVBkekVHdz09
Meeting ID: 820 2439 7353
Passcode: 661908
We would like to understand in advance any issues that you want to raise and whilst we anticipate that issues such as the recovery phase of COVID, work transfer between secondary and primary care, flu, winter and finance are likely to be priorities for you, we would welcome any other discussion points that you would like us to cover.
Please do attend if you can and also share this invitation with your colleagues so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to share their views. To confirm your attendance or to request an agenda item for discussion please email us at ddccg.communications@nhs.net
Quality Conversations training. DCHS have asked us to share the additional dates they have added to the quality conversations training programme. (Attachment E).
Ask a Urologist. Have you got a cancer related Urology question? Do you want to speak with a Urology consultant from CRH and UHDB? A great opportunity is now available for you to “Ask a Urologist”. We have Miss Kate Linton from CRH and Mr Simon Williams from UHDB available for you to talk to via MS Teams in our “clinical chat room”.
The session will run 3pm – 4pm on Wednesday 9th September via this link Join Microsoft Teams Meeting Join Microsoft Teams Meeting you can join and leave at any point during the session to talk about Urology or Trust pathways.
If you have any questions you would like to send in advance please send them to jo.rhodes@nhs.net but please do not send patient identifiable information. The sessions are intended to be a general discussion and not patient specific. Please continue to access Advice & Guidance for patient specific advice.
GP TASK FORCE DERBYSHIRE
GPTF COVID Restoration and Recovery survey. Thank you. Over 70 practices completed our COVID Restoration and Recovery survey which provided us with a really good insight into your current and future needs. We have already started planning some events and see Attachment F for further details.
Flu Planning Webinar - Tuesday 1st September 2020 at 11am - 12pm. 80% of practices who completed the survey asked for a Flu Planning Webinar and we have invited Derby and Derbyshire CCG to share with practices the key highlights of the contractual and operational position on this year’s flu campaign.
I will chair the session and introduce our guest speakers. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and most importantly, a chance for practices to sense check and share in an open forum any issues, barriers, good practice etc for peer support. Dial in details: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83882791703?pwd=NUFpMDNCTHNWVkw4Y2h5NDVTazhCQT09
Passcode: 271174
This webinar will be recorded and shared on our website and weekly LMC bulletin.
DEN Adult Safeguarding: Thursday 10th September 2020 13:30 – 15:30 – Click here to book.
DEN Basic Life Support Update: Wednesday 16th September 2020 19:00 – 20:30 – Click here to book.
OTHER UPDATES
GMC fees and maternity leave. The BMA have pointed out to the GMC that the income discount scheme may not provide the desired benefit when the maternity leave spans 2 registration years. GMC are reviewing the scheme but have put in place an interim solution. Details are on the application form here.
Registering patients prior to their release from secure residential estate. The BMA have sent out a reminder “Practices have a contractual obligation (as set out in the NHSE GMS Contract 2017/18 page 64) to support with registering patients prior to their release from the secure residential estate. GP practices are asked to ensure that processes are in place to support this. Plans are also progressing to enable patients to register with a GP in their place of detention in the same way as they register with a community GP. This change will enable a patient’s general practice record to transfer to their place of detention, allowing clinicians working in these settings full access to the individual’s medical record and history. This will be rolled out next year in a phased approach across England. BMA guidance will be updated to reflect this clarification and will be circulated as soon as possible to LMCs.”
Pneumovax and the drug tariff. It has been brought to our attention that currently the only pneumococcal vaccine that appears to be available is the branded Pneumovax23 (pre-filled syringe). The price listed on the drug tariff for Pneumovax23 is £16.80 as opposed to £8.32 for the generic vial.
If you are using Pneumovax23 it is important to log this and not the generic version on your FP34D vaccine claim form in order to receive the correct reimbursement.
PMS/APMS 2020/21 GP contract changes. Following the changes to the GMS contract for 2020/21, this document sets out the approach to the funding changes that the CCG will apply to PMS and APMS contracts. PCC have developed a short Slideshare summarising these changes.
SBS Invoicing. Hopefully you will have all seen the SBS Communication (Attachment G) about the updated invoicing process. They can now accept invoices by e-mail.
AND FINALLY…
One of my friends was telling me they had failed an exam in Aboriginal Music.
I asked “DIDJA REDO IT?”……
It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.
"Hello Eeyore," said Pooh.
"Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet," said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.
"We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay."
Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven't bothered you. Because you wouldn't want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now."
Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.
Eeyore looked at them in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"We're sitting here with you," said Pooh, "because we are your friends. And true friends don't care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are."
"Oh," said Eeyore. "Oh." And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
Because Pooh and Piglet were There.
No more; no less.
(A.A. Milne, E.H. Shepard)
And I don’t know why he calls me a donkey. Eeyore, Eeyore, Eeyore ways calls me a donkey. (Read it out loud).
Hope you all have a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend.