Long COVID clinic update

The Mid and South Essex system now has £1.7m of funding to support all-age long COVID clinics across our footprint. Next steps being undertaken by clinical leads and commissioners for the service are outlined below for your reference:

• Recruit to workforce plan (£1.7m)
• Expand MDTs
• Expand COVID rehab
• Expand face-to-face services
• Obtain further feedback from service users
• Implement updated ccommunication and engagement plan

Spirometry testing in the community

Services are now in place for mid Essex and work is ongoing to provide this service across the three south Essex “places” (Basildon and Brentwood; South East Essex; Thurrock). Additional training will be rolled out for community teams across all areas.

FeNO in the Community

Purchase of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) devices for community teams across mid and south Essex is currently underway. Training in their use will be provided as part of the procurement.

Reporting on COVID Oximetry@home

The five MSE CCGs must report Oximetry@home stats to NHS Digital on a weekly basis as shown below.

Please use the Ardens template to capture COVID Oximetry@home data so reporting can take place centrally. No PID is extracted, only numbers. 

All practices should have access to Ardens and there is further information about the templates here: COVID Oximetry@Home: Ardens EMIS Web

Remote Monitoring – COVID Oximetry@home : Ardens Healthcare Informatics

If you experience issues or require support with the template (shown below for reference) please contact [email protected]

If you have any queries about Ardens templates or their use, please contact:

• Thurrock: Nick Hammond, [email protected]
• Basildon and Brentwood: Lynne Powell, [email protected]
• Castle Point and Rochford / Southend CCGs: Ali Birch, [email protected]
• Mid Essex: Sarah Exall, [email protected]

Changes to Oximetry@Home Legislation for Pregnant Women

National guidance has been revised to state that COVID-19 positive pregnant women should now be considered part of the ‘higher risk from COVID’ group and, where appropriate, should be considered for referral to COVID Oximetry@home.

This precautionary measure is to ensure pregnant women who are otherwise well and do not require admission are able to identify deterioration in oxygen saturations early and seek the right care. Standard indications for review in secondary care in relation to their pregnancy, any co-morbidity, or any worsening of COVID-19 symptoms will remain, as set out on the NHSE website at www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-at-home/covid-oximetry-at-home/

The Respiratory Programme Team are currently working with key stakeholders to review existing Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that this guidance is included.

Respiratory Clinical Network

The Respiratory Programme Team have reviewed the Respiratory Governance arrangements and as a result a Clinical Network is being established to support the transformation of services across mid and south Essex.

Please contact Sharon Earl, Programme Lead, MSE Partners, [email protected] should you have any queries in relation to the respiratory update outlined above.