DDLMC WEEKLY UPDATE ISSUE 1/23
GENERAL PRACTICE – ABUSE OF STAFF
Over the holiday period we were both saddened and appalled to hear of a GP surgery in Derbyshire “trashed” by a patient in a violent attack. We wish to offer our sympathies and support to all staff at the surgery who witnessed such a horrific incident.
When GP practices have a patient who is violent or exhibiting behaviour that makes them fear for their safety, the patient should immediately be removed from the practice list.
To do this, you must:
- Call 999 or your local police station as soon as possible.
- State what happened and if necessary, request police assistance at the incident location. The police will allocate an incident number that can be requested by the practice.
- Notify PCSE at 0333 014 2884 or via their https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/. online contact form. The removal takes effect at the time at which the practice contacts PCSE.
- Inform the patient of the removal, as long as it would not be harmful to the patient’s mental or physical health or put any of the people listed above at risk.
- Notify the CQC ‘without delay’, either while a registered activity is provided or as a consequence of it being provided, including incidents involving the police.
Please see resources below, reproduced with the kind permission of Nottinghamshire LMC to also help with managing challenging patients who do not meet the criteria for referral to the Special Allocation Scheme (SAS).
Example of a Zero Tolerance policy
Example of a Patient Behaviour Contract
GP PATIENT SURVEY 2023
Launching in January 2023, this is a key source about collating feedback on general practice services. Practices can help promote the survey by displaying a poster on practice premises, talking about it on social media or posting about it on practice websites: https://gp-patient.co.uk/.
LOCAL UPDATES
NHS 111 URGENT CARE SERVICE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK FORM
Please see attached the form to complete for inappropriate referrals from 111 Urgent Care Service at Derbyshire Health United. The form should be sent to Feedback111.Derbyshire@nhs.net or telephone the DHU Clinical Governance Office on 0300 1000 407 for assistance.
WINTER CAMPAIGNS
Winter Campaigns 2022 - Google Drive
In the NHS111 folder:
- National NHS 111 online graphics for use on social media / screens
- The 'Five things you can do to help you and your family stay well this Christmas article' and associated graphics to support its promotion (some work as a standalone as they have the key messages on)
- 'Tick repeat prescriptions off your Christmas to-do list' graphics for use on social media and screens
In the Respiratory – Winter 22 folder:
- Graphics for social media and screens to support management of different respiratory conditions
In the self-care folder:
- Patient information leaflets for cold sores, colds, dry eyes, headaches and migraines and sore throat
- Posters to promote pharmacy and self-care
- Graphics for social media to promote self-care for cold sores, colds, dry eyes, headaches and migraines and sore throat
- Self-care videos
NHSE & NHSI COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINATION SUPPORT BULLETIN – ISSUE 41 (Message from DDICB)
The aim of the information enclosed in the bulletin is to summarise the key requirements in line with national policy and guidance and provide latest information.
NHSE_&_NHSI_COVID_19_Vaccination_Bulletin_41.pdf (derbyshiremedicinesmanagement.nhs.uk)
WINTER PRESSURES AND COST OF LIVING RESOURCE PACK (Message from DDICB)
As Winter approaches we are all aware of the cost of living crisis and the impact it is having on our service users and staff.
Following on from a recent Cost of Living, Winter Pressures and Suicide Prevention Thinking Space session run by NHS England and NHS Improvement, we now have a Winter Pressures and Cost of Living resource pack, which we would be grateful if you could share as appropriate across your networks and channels.
PROCESSING AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES (Message from DDICB)
The NHSCFA have been notified of numerous fraudulent attempts for payment of office supplies/consumables concentrating mainly on printer toners and printer drums. In most cases the items have not been ordered and, in most instances, they have not been received. It should be noted that the fraud not only applies to office supplies but could apply to supplies in general.
The methodology of the fraudster is to impersonate a company that may do business with the NHS, therefore adding plausibility that the invoice request is legitimate, or to create a fake company that does not actually supply any goods or services. Intelligence received to date suggests that these attempts have mainly concentrated on GP surgeries; however, this could be an intelligence gap and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Trusts may have or will be extensively targeted along with the wider NHS.
Those involved in the processing and approval of invoices are asked to remain vigilant. For information regarding fraud, including reporting, refer to the ICB intranet.
STROKE PREVENTION DAY – 12 JANUARY 2023
On 12th January 2023, the Stroke Association is holding a ‘Stroke Prevention Day’ aimed at raising awareness of Atrial Fibrillation as a major cause of stroke. AF is linked to around one in five strokes – that's 40 stroke per day, and strokes in people with AF are more severe and are more likely to result in death or serious disability.
For further details please go to website: Stroke Prevention Day 2023 | Stroke Association.
How you can help the Stroke Association
Social media activity
Please support people to check their pulse using social media by sharing suggested wording and images on your social channels. The more people who take action, the more strokes we could prevent. Find toolkit here: https://www.stroke.org.uk/spd23-social-media-toolkit .
MESSAGE FROM JUCD
The link below introduces the warm space scheme and gives a list of all the venues signed up as a warm space or warm hub.
Please find attached the January edition of the JUCD newsletter. You can also find it here, with past editions of the newsletter.
This issue features:
- A spotlight on Apprenticeships see pages 7 - 8
- A spotlight on Derbyshire County Council Public Health see pages 10-12 – There will be a spotlight on Derby City Public Health in the March 2023 issue.
- A spotlight on Children and Young People see pages 14-17
NEW GUIDELINES FOR GPS FOR TESTOSTERONE PRESCRIBING IN MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Derbyshire Shared Care pathology and Medicines Management team have been working together over the last 3 months, to write a guideline to enable GPs wishing to consider prescribing testosterone to women as part of their menopause management, to do so. Testosterone can be used as an adjunct to traditional HRT (oestrogen plus progesterone) and specifically in those people with low libido. This doesn't stop you being able to refer to secondary care for help with menopausal symptom management but gives you the option of being able to prescribe and monitor testosterone in primary care, should you wish to do so.
These are the two guidelines which will be uploaded to the respective websites:
https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n865.pdf&ver=55977
NATIONAL UPDATES
MESSAGE FROM DR RICHARD VAN MELLAERTS, DEPUTY CHAIR – GP COMMITTEE ENGLAND OF BMA
Last week GPC England officer team wrote to the CQC to suspend routine inspections of general practice during this time of unprecedented pressures. I include their response for your information.
As you can see, they acknowledge the circumstances under which we are working, but propose to continue targeted inspections. Whilst fine words butter no parsnips, it is at least helpful to see the new inspection regime being paused and a reactive approach being adopted currently. We will continue to discuss the risks that practices and GPs are having to manage currently, and how this adversely effects patients despite practices very best efforts. Practices and GPs cannot be held accountable for system wide issues.
We will also be lobbying NHSE, DHSC and the secretary of state for legislative change in line with conference policy on CQC.
We will continue to update you on our efforts to support general practice during this very difficult time. You and your practices continue to have our full support.
NHSE GENERAL PRACTICE WEBINAR
Please join us on Thursday 12 January 2023 at 5pm for the next of our regular General Practice webinars with information and updates on the latest policy around general practice. To kick-start the new year, we’ll have in depth updates on the role of nursing associates in primary care, advanced health checks for people with learning disabilities and updates on GP Direct Access to diagnostics.
To attend, please ensure you register by 12pm on Wednesday 11 January 2023. If you registered for our last webinar, you do not need to register again.
Resource Material
Missed a recent webinar? You can view some recordings below:
Download our patient-facing materials: