Page last updated: 31 March, 2021, 11:42am
Primary Care E-bulletin (Issue 128) – 23 March
Click here to view web browser version of this briefing.
Welcome to the latest edition of our e-briefing to support GP practices across mid and south Essex.
Help shape future primary care bulletins
We are currently in the process of changing provider for our email communications. Our contract with the current provider runs out on 1 April 2021.
Therefore, there may be some temporary changes in the way we deliver this bulletin to you initially after this date. Following this, the design and layout of the bulletin will change, however, there should not be any significant changes.
We’d like to take the opportunity to review our current newsletters, so we are asking people to share their views on the content and layout.
We do appreciate there are many demands on your time at present, but if you can spare a few moments to complete a brief feedback survey we’d be very grateful.
We will use this feedback to help build our new design for primary care communications going forward.
In this issue:
- COVID-19 Updates
- REMINDER: COVID-19 Respiratory Hub referral criteria
- REMINDER: Vaccine supply from 29 March 2021
- Home delivery of medicines and appliances for self-isolating patients
- New resources to help keep children safe from online grooming
- Share your views: End of Life Care Education Needs
- PCN webinar: A focus on additional roles reimbursement scheme and recruitment
- A Focus on Ovarian Cancer Awareness
- Ready Reckoner 2021/22 for GMS practices and PCNs
- NHSE Primary Care COVID-19 Bulletin
Day to Day Support
COVID-19 Updates
REMINDER: COVID-19 Respiratory Hub referral criteria
Please note, we have received reports that in some areas, the number of people referred to the COVID Hubs inappropriately has been rising. The referral criteria, which must be used, is below:
- Patient has symptoms that suggests they are currently COVID-19 positive AND
- Patient requires a face-to-face appointment (for either COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 reasons)
REMINDER: Vaccine supply from 29 March 2021
As you may be aware, there will be a significant reduction in weekly COVID vaccine supply from next week (commencing 29 March), meaning volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained for an estimated four weeks.
With national booking now open to everyone aged 50 and over, PCN sites are asked to focus on ensuring maximum uptake in cohorts 1 – 9. Please do not promote vaccination out of cohort via social media.
The CCG communications team is developing some videos (for use on social media) to remind people to attend the same site for second doses and cancel their appointment if plans have changed.
Home delivery of medicines and appliances for self-isolating patients
The Community Pharmacy Home Delivery Service and the Dispensing Doctor Home Delivery Service have been commissioned for anyone living in England who has been notified by Test and Trace to self-isolate and requires medication/device delivery. This service is currently contracted to run until 30 June 2021 (inclusive). Service specs and guidance have been updated to reflect this.
Updates from the Wider System in Mid and South Essex
New resources to help keep children safe from online grooming
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the nature of child exploitation. More and more often young people are being groomed remotely as they crave connection over social media. New, emerging signs of exploitation include online commodities – receiving game currency and other gifts within games. A child could be working for a gang with no need to ever meet anyone or leave the house.
To combat this change, Essex Safeguarding Children Board, its partners and organisations including The 2 Johns, Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, The Children’s Society and Barnardo’s have created new resources for health and care professionals, parents and unpaid carers. Visit the Essex Safeguarding Children Board website for more details.
Practices can also download resources for websites, social media and sharing with patient groups from the button below.
Online child exploitation social media pack, March 2021
Education and Training
Share your views: End of Life Care Education Needs
Deadline for response: 16th April 2021
The Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership End of Life Education Group are looking for your views with regards to end of life care education. Please do take the time to complete this important survey which will be used to shape future education packages for end of life care.
As an incentive for completing the survey we are putting all those who wish to be entered into a prize draw for a £10 Marks and Spencer voucher.
There is a link at the end of the survey that can click on to e-mail your details in order to be entered into the prize draw.
Primary care networks webinar: ARR scheme and recruitment
This webinar, on Thursday 28 April 2021 between 5.30pm and 7pm is for PCN clinical directors and general practice teams. Attendees will hear updates on the Additional Roles Reimbursement scheme and recruitment practice from the NHS England Primary Care Workforce and Mental Health transformation team.
There will be opportunities to ask questions throughout. For further information and booking details, please use the button below. Registration for the event must be complete by 3pm on 28 April.
A Focus on Ovarian Cancer Awareness
To help support primary care colleagues to understand the symptoms, investigations and treatment of ovarian cancer – Target Ovarian Cancer have developed two short podcasts especially for clinicians, in partnership with the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum.
These podcasts will help to raise awareness of ovarian cancer presentations, and encourage GPs to feel empowered in taking on the early diagnosis challenge.
For Information
Ready Reckoner 2021/22 for GMS practices and PCNs
As in previous years, the ready reckoner available from the button to the right has been produced by NHS England & NHS Improvement in partnership with the GPC. It offers an indication of the changes in income streams that may affect a GMS practice and Primary Care Network (PCN) from 1 April 2021 following the GMS contract negotiations for 2021/22. Figures are indicative and do not provide any guarantee of income.
Ready reckoner 2021/22 for GMS practices and PCNs
NHSE Primary Care COVID-19 Bulletin
Click here to access NHS England’s latest primary care Covid-19 bulletins.
For the latest advice and guidance around coronavirus for clinicians, please visit the NHS England website.