Primary Care E-bulletin (Issue 103) – 15 December

Click here to view web browser version of this briefing.

In this Issue:

• NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme update
• Pathology First Central Specimen Reception email
• Mid and South Essex Training Hub
• Nurse verification of expected deaths theory training
• Ovarian Cancer – Early Diagnosis
• Get involved in the MSE Big Festive Thank You

Support with Day to Day Issues

NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme update

Following delivery of initial vaccinations at Basildon University Hospital and other hub sites across the country we enter the second week of vaccinations across Mid and South Essex initially targeting those aged 80 and over, care home staff and health care workers.

Local vaccination services run by Primary Care Networks in five locations will commence this week.  More practices will follow in coming weeks. Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs.  

Vaccination centres treating large numbers of patients at a range of venues including sports halls and venues, conference centres and NHS sites are also preparing to stand up later in the month when further supplies of the vaccine are available.

F.A.O. Primary Care Networks vaccination centres – communications and engagement resources

A range of communications and engagement resources for Primary Care Network (PCN) designated sites are available on the Future NHS collaboration platform.

Standard operating procedure for local vaccination services

The standard operating procedure for the deployment of local vaccination services has been published and describes the operating model and design requirements for the safe delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the community.

COVID-19 vaccine patient group direction (PGD)

The PGD for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme is available to download.

Other useful resources can be found on the GOV website.

Suggested text for GP practice websites

The public can really help the NHS to deliver our vaccination programmes effectively to those who need it most. Taking these simple steps will help us to help you.

• The NHS will contact you when it’s the right time to come forward, so please don’t contact us to seek a vaccine before then.
• Please act on your invitation when it arrives, and make sure you attend your appointments when you arrange them.
• In the meantime, please continue to abide by all the social distancing and hand hygiene guidance, which will still save lives.

The latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme is online on the NHS website. We advise checking there first if you have questions about the safety or effectiveness of COVID vaccines, or your priority to receive vaccination.

General resources for the public COVID vaccination campaign are available on the Campaign Resource Centre.

IMPORTANT: Register interest in local COVID-19 Vaccination programme 

If you or someone you know would like to register interest in supporting the local COVID-19 vaccination programme, please do so via the Essex Primary Care Careers website.

MHRA guidance for those with a history of allergy

MHRA have issued further guidance about the use of the Pfizer BionTech vaccine in those with a history of allergy. The MHRA have also explicitly advised that a 15 minute observation period needs to be reinstated and we will consider the operational consequences of this for vaccination centres.

These include:

• Posters
• Social animations
• Social statics
• Additional social
• Email signatures

Questions about local vaccination programme

If you have any questions about the Vaccination Programme yourself, please do email [email protected] so the Incident Management Team can log and respond in a coordinated way to the high number of queries coming in.

Pathology First Central Specimen Reception email

The email address for the Pathology First Central Specimen Reception is as follows: [email protected]. Please use this if an immediate telephone conversation is not required.

Education and Training

Mid and South Essex Training Hub

For the latest initiatives from the Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership Training Hub, please visit the Training Hub section of our website.

Post-CCT GP fellowships

The new General Practice Fellowship Programme, which has been launched nationally by NHS England & NHS Improvement is aimed at supporting newly qualified GPs gain experience as a valued, employed member of a practice/PCN. Full details, including how to apply, can be viewed on the MSE Training Hub website.

Nurse verification of expected deaths theory training

When: December and Jan 2021 weekly dates

Learn the differences between verification and certification of death, the legal framework regarding nurse verification of expected death and the practical procedures involved.

Download poster

Ovarian Cancer – Early Diagnosis

This course aims to support primary care professionals to recognise symptoms, understand genetic risk factors and comprehend essential investigations. The course is free to access and suitable for all primary care professionals in England.

More information

For Information

Get involved in the MSE Big Festive Thank You!

Yesterday marked the start of the MSE Big Festive Thank You! This time last year we could have never have imagined what this year would bring.

We do appreciate this is a hugely busy time in primary care, but wanted to offer a simple way for your practice to share a message of thanks to your own teams and the wider community for coming together to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full details and a toolkit to promote the Festive Big Thank You, perhaps through your Patient Participation Group, are available from the button below. Thank you for any support you can offer.

Visit campaign website