Page last updated: 13 April, 2021, 12:11pm

Primary Care E-bulletin (Issue 133) – 13 April 2021

Welcome to the latest edition of our e-briefing to support GP practices across mid and south Essex.

If you think these e-briefings could be improved, please let us know how by sharing your feedback.

Previous bulletins can be found on the MSE healthcare professional website.

There is also a search function (located top-right of the website) to make it easy to find what you’re looking for.

Have your say on the Mid and South Essex Healthcare Professional Website

During the initial COVID-19 pandemic, we set up a website to provide a central resource for professionals working in health and social care across mid and south Essex. We are now looking to improve the temporary offer and develop a new website, but we’d like your views on how useful you find this resource and how we can improve the site for your use. Help us to develop a website that meets your needs by completing a short survey that should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. Deadline is 16 April

Have your say

Invitation to Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership *all staff* briefing

Following positive feedback *all staff briefings* across mid and south Essex will take place at least quarterly.

We would therefore like to invite colleagues from GP practices to join the next briefing session at 5 - 5.45pm on Thursday 15 April via Microsoft Teams Live.  Further details are below including how you can join.

The session will provide an update on:

  • our local pandemic response
  • an update on our local vaccination programme
  • the latest on the delivery of cancer services including how we ensure patients come forward for testing/with symptoms
  • our future as an Integrated Care System following the publication of the White Paper and what this means for you as a member of staff working in mid and south Essex

Events details

When: Thursday 15 April 5 - 5.45pm

How do I join?: You can join this session by clicking here

Read a quick guide about how to join a Microsoft Teams Live event if you haven’t attended one before. You can access this event on your laptop, iPad or smart phone.

I look forward to you joining us. If you’re unable to attend, a recording will be shared afterwards.

Best wishes

Anthony ‘Mac’ McKeever, Executive Lead Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership and Joint Accountable Officer for its five CCGs

SUPPORT WITH DAY TO DAY ISSUES

COVID-19 vaccinations open to over 45s

The national booking system changed overnight to advertise that 45’s and over can now book.

Invitations to people in their late 40s will begin this week, and more will follow as supplies allow. Local GP Vaccination Sites have been advised they can now book anyone 45 years old and over. NB. This is not the full cohort 10.

AstraZeneca vaccine latest guidance

Following last week’s update from the Medicines and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance in relation to the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, NHSE/I have published the next steps and actions for all vaccination sites.

MHRA and JCVI have made clear the balance of risk is still very much in favour of vaccination. It is therefore critical that we implement their direction in a similarly balanced and operationally robust manner so that we continue to deliver our life-saving programme.

Headache presentations post Covid vaccination

There has been a notable increase in the number of people presenting at all services with headache symptoms following Covid vaccination.

Please see latest guidance which gives clear criteria for triage: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-blood-clotting-information-for-healthcare-professionals/information-for-healthcare-professionals-on-blood-clotting-following-covid-19-vaccination

Advise patients to seek urgent medical advice if they experience any of the following symptoms more than 4 days and within 28 days of coronavirus vaccination:

If you have clinical concern, patients should be urgently referred to hospital and to appropriate specialist services for further assessment, particularly if the symptoms are unexplained and present in combination with thrombocytopaenia.

AZ vaccine: new AZ vaccination and blood clot guidance for healthcare professionals and patients

Following this morning’s update, please find below links to both new and updated vaccine information and collateral.

For healthcare professionals

For people being vaccinated

*IMPORTANT* Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT) Supporting avoidable hospital admissions across mid and south Essex (MSE)

NEW contact number for Mid and South Essex: 0344 257 3951

UCRT is the new collective name for the community teams who respond to the crisis needs of patients in their own homes, including nursing and residential care homes, to avoid admission to hospital or in need of new 24-hour care.

Access to this service is available immediately. You may already know the service by a different name, depending on your location:

Please note, calls to these services will be temporarily diverted to the new number. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SYSTEMS WITH 0344 257 3951.

The service is accessible 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year with teams operating from 08:00hrs – 22:00hrs (referrals accepted 08:00 – 20:00).

More information

Urgent Community Response Team UCRTDownload

2WW referrals for suspected cancer – Head and Neck Service

We’ve been made aware that some GPs are concerned about pauses in cancer diagnostics particularly for ENT.

Please note that there has been no pause in diagnostic services for suspected head and neck cancers that are referred to the MSE Hospitals under the 2WW pathway.

All cases of suspected cancer will be investigated in line with the regular service, which is fully operational.

For GPs: https://coronavirus.msehealthandcarepartnership.co.uk/gp-practices/digital/s12-solutions-support-for-mental-health-professionals/

For AMHPs: https://coronavirus.msehealthandcarepartnership.co.uk/health-and-care-staff/useful-resources/s12-solutions-for-approved-mental-health-professionals/

IMPORTANT UPDATE: for Section 12 approved doctors

S12 Solutions to support mental health professionals launched across the region

S12 Solutions is an app and website, developed by an Approved Mental Health Professional  (AMHP) which connects AMHPs with available Section 12 approved doctors, to make Mental Health Act assessment team organisation and claim form processes more efficient. The S12 Solutions platform is being introduced across Essex including Southend and Thurrock.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Wellbeing Support

Anxiety, stress, bereavement are all very pertinent emotions that people all over the world are currently experiencing. However, Healthcare workers have been at the full front of Covid-19 from the very beginning, if you are needing support, confidential space, a forum to reflect about your experiences and emotions, please utilise the service that is Here For You!  

Additional dates have been added for the below workshops to ensure an opportunity has been provided for all Primary Care staff to access a thoughtful and supportive space during these challenging times.

Compassionate Leadership workshops - This workshop is aimed at individuals who lead/manage people. During this workshop be prepared to ask yourself that all important question; ‘What is it like to be led by you?

Compassionate Culture workshops – this workshop is aimed at the Primary Care Workforce, please note, if you are a manager, please attend Compassionate Leadership Workshop.

To book onto either of these workshops, please email [email protected]

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.

GP Refresher: 2WW referral pathway for Gynaecology’

Mr Kalkur is leading this session on Wednesday 14th April at 1510-1610

Joining details:  ➡️ https://meet.starleaf.com/4646792290/app

Note: The Trust is using StarLeaf which is limited to 100 devices dialling in.  Slides from the session will be shared in a future GP Bulletin.

Nursing Associate training

The Nursing Associate is a new Band 4 role launched in 2017 for England’s nursing workforce to support Registered Nurses in primary, secondary, community and social care. They are equipped to provide care across a range of settings, working to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) standards of proficiency, with their own professional register. Full details of the course, including entry requirements, can be viewed here:

Nursing Associate trainingDownload

The mid and south Essex Training Hub are inviting Expressions of Interest for the forthcoming cohort, due to commence in September 2021.

Two Q&A sessions will take place:

  • Wednesday 21 April, 12pm-1pm
  • Tuesday, 27 April, 1pm-2pm

To attend one of the above Q&A sessions, please email [email protected] with your preferred date. 

These sessions will be hosted by Jo Brown, Business Development Consultant, ARU and Melanie Lamb, GPN Training Hub Lead, Mid and South Essex HCP.

GP coaching

The Mid and South Essex Training Hub have commissioned a coaching service for GPs in mid and south Essex. GPs undertake coaching for a variety of reasons. The person receiving coaching can build their self-awareness, enhancing their confidence, relationships and performance. At a practice level this can translate into enhanced leadership skills, improved team working and work satisfaction. The service is being delivered by the Royal College of General Practitioners, who fully appreciate the current challenges facing the profession. Experienced coaches are current or recent primary care team members and coaching conversations with them are confidential and non-judgemental. The coaching package includes: An initial 30-minute call with you coach to establish your relationship, discuss the coaching process and your goals Four coaching sessions, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes, via MS Teams, Skype or telephone Support with tracking and evaluating your process The offer is open to all GPs working in any capacity within the mid and south Essex system and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To express an interest, email [email protected]

Invitation to Getting It Right First Time: Improving the Perioperative Pathway of Patients with Diabetes (GIRFT IP3D) Programme- GP webinar

Our lunchtime webinar is scheduled for Thursday 15 April,  12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Thank you to all those who have already registered. If you have not yet done so, we invite you to join us using this link: -   Register here

We do hope you will be able to join us. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]

FOR INFORMATION

Ramadan

As you may be aware, the holy month of Ramadan for our Muslim colleagues is due to begin on Monday 12 April. Ramadan lasts for 29 - 30 days and ends with the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is likely to be on Wednesday 12 May.

Colleagues should be aware of key advice relating to Muslim colleagues who may be fasting during the month of Ramadan - this guide which includes specific advice to support managers and colleagues across the NHS. 

Evaluation of clinical Advice and Guidance (A&G) services

The NHS England and Improvement National Elective Care Recovery & Transformation Programme has commissioned NHS North of England Commissioning Support (NECS)  to undertake an independent evaluation of primary care and commissioner perspectives on clinical Advice and Guidance (A&G) services used within the NHS in England.

A&G services allow a clinician (often, but not exclusively, in primary care) to seek advice from another clinician (usually a specialist) prior to or instead of referral. The purpose of this evaluation is to understand A&G uptake, outcomes, barriers and opportunities, and best practice, prior to and since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Information gathered will inform future planning and national support for A&G.

If you work in primary care and have experience of using A&G services, please take this 10 minute survey by 16th April: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N5HS3EI

The evaluation will also involve interviews with a smaller sample of people working in primary care or commissioning who have experience of using or managing A&G services. Interviews will last 30-40 minutes via telephone or Microsoft Teams. If you work in primary care and/or commissioning and wish to be interviewed, please express an interest via the survey, or email the evaluation team at [email protected]

We would like to ensure this evaluation reflects the views of a range of individuals and organisations across primary care and commissioning with experience and knowledge of A&G services. As such, we would be grateful if you could forward this message to appropriate primary care and commissioning contacts and encourage them to cascade to their networks.

Access to survey responses and interview data will be restricted to the NECS Research and Evidence Team, and all responses will be anonymised and treated in confidence.

For further information, please contact the evaluation team at [email protected].

NHS 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.