Page last updated: 1 May, 2020, 11:52am

E-briefing (Issue 26) - 23 April 2020

Welcome to the COVID-19 e-briefing to support GP practices across mid and south Essex with operational information and advice.

Note: all previous bulletins can be found here.

Please continue to send feedback about how we can improve this e-briefing by using the ‘send feedback’ button below.

In this issue:

  • Mid and south Essex broadcast teleconference summary
  • Holding outpatient referrals
  • Updated radiology referrals flow chart
  • Important information re: paediatric blood tests at Southend
  • Important information re: blood tests in Basildon areas
  • Safeguarding support tools
  • Managing loss of life
  • NHSE primary care COVID-19 bulletin

Support with Day to Day Issues

Mid and South Essex broadcast teleconference summary

Please click below for a summary of the teleconference held yesterday (22 April); including updates about the May Bank Holiday, Community Services, Non Urgent Referrals to MSE Group, staff swabbing and more.

Updates from Wider System in Mid and South Essex

Non urgent referrals to MSE group

Whilst we recognise that there was a message in the national primary care broadcast webinar last Thursday that acute trusts would be expected to hold non urgent referrals, this change is still pending national guidelines across acute and primary care. This is expected shortly and will be implemented.

While we are waiting for these national guidelines, practices should continue to follow the existing local guidance on holding outpatient referrals. This was distributed in our bulletins on the 13th and 15th of April, and is included again below for reference:

Holding outpatient referrals

You will be aware that Mid and South Essex Hospital Group are no longer accepting non-urgent referrals as part of the management of outpatient care in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

We included details of a new, instant secure messaging app called Pando to connect colleagues in primary and secondary care in the 13 April e-bulletin

Pando includes an ‘Ask Advice’ function which gives GPs the opportunity to reach out to a team of secondary care professionals under high priority specialities for advice on how to proceed with patients care.

For those patients who require a routine referral at a later date, please below step by step guides on how to ‘Schedule a Task’ via SystmOne, EMIS and Vision;  to enable you to set a task to remind you that a patient requires a test or routine referral at a future date.  Please share this information with appropriate members of staff within your practice.

Please note: this does not apply to 2WW referrals which should continue to be referred in the usual way.

Updated radiology referrals flow chart

Please click below for an updated flowchart from the hospital trust.

Note: the only tweak related to the X-ray service being slightly different at Basildon Hospital from the other sites.

Download updated flowchart

Important information RE: paediatric blood tests at Southend

Further to local communications colleagues in pathology have asked us to re-share the below information following complaints from parents re. misinformation being shared by GP practices.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we ask that GPs only refer URGENT paediatric blood tests during this period.

Where GPs assess that blood tests are urgent, the GP will need to call Southend Hospital and ask to speak to the On-Call Paediatrician 01702 435555 who will advise re. next steps.

This will only be for children who are well and not symptomatic of COVID-19.

Patients who are under 18 will not be able to book an appointment through Swiftqueue. If a patient has an appointment that is booked for the future on Swiftqueue, at any site other than at a GP practice, the family of the patient will be contacted to cancel this appointment.

Important information RE: paediatric blood tests in Basildon areas

The Outpatients Department at Basildon University Hospital is closed for blood tests due to the current coronavirus pandemic. Please click below for further information re. blood tests in the Basildon area.

More information

For information

Safeguarding support tools

Following on from the RCGP safeguarding advice sent to every GP in the country, the Primary Care Safeguarding Forum and National Network of Named GP representatives , in collaboration with the RCGP adolescent working group, have put together a resource for every GP practice safeguarding lead to have, disseminate within their own practices and to use for the benefit of their own vulnerable patient cohorts. Click below for these support tools.

The CCGs Safeguarding Teams should continue to be accessed as normal.

Access support tools

Managing loss of life

The Cabinet Office has today brought together guidance on GOV.​UK to support employers and workers involved in managing coronavirus deaths, to ensure individuals are well protected and to make sure that any tragic loss of life is handled with the utmost respect and care.

View guidance on gov.uk

NHSE primary care COVID-19 bulletin

Click here for NHS England’s latest primary care Covid-19 bulletin which includes items on:

Reducing the burden of fit notes during Covid-19:

  • 23 April, 5-6pm: Primary care webinar with Nikki and Ed Waller

Digital First webinars on practical steps that practices should take to establish a total triage model:

Coaching support webinars:

  • 24 April, 3pm: Coaching support launch webinar

Please direct all primary care queries relating to COVID-19 via [email protected]. These emails are reviewed routinely by all of the local CCG Primary Care Teams through-out the day, 7 days a week, and responses prioritised.