Page last updated: 30 April, 2021, 12:42pm
Primary Care E-bulletin (Issue 138) – 30 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.
Please note: due to the upcoming bank holiday weekend, we will only be publishing one bulletin next week on Wednesday.
In this Issue:
- NHS invites people over 40 and over for COVID-19 jab
- FOR ACTION: Welfare calls to support COVID vaccination programme
- Urgent and Emergency Mental Health Services – GP support
- Pulse oximetry for people with darker skin
- Macmillan GPs Cancer Update April 2021
- Arden & GEM IT Update
- Details of forthcoming training opportunities and events from the MSE Training Hub
- GP Education Event – Lower GI and FIT with Q&A Session
- NHS Wider Roles in Primary Care animation
Support with Day to Day Issues
UPDATE: NHS invites people over 40 and over for COVID-19 jab
Everyone aged 40 and over is now being invited to book a Covid-19 jab as the NHS vaccination programme continues. Text messages will be sent to 40 and 41-year-olds, directing them to the national booking service.
FOR ACTION: Welfare calls to support COVID vaccination programme
Please download the letter below which includes important information about welfare calls to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme for patients with learning disabilities and severe mental illness.
FOR ACTION: to facilitate the above calls, reports have been published on SystmOne which will identify patients who meet the above criteria who have not received a COVID vaccination.
We are asking all practices in Mid & South Essex to run these reports to identify their patients who are eligible to receive a welfare call.
Please could you ensure you run the report and send to AGEM by Friday 7th May.
Urgent and Emergency Mental Health Services – GP support
We’ve been made aware that the dedicated line for GPs which helps GPs to support those in mental health crisis is not being used as widely as it should be. GPs are encouraged to advise patients that if they are in mental health crisis they should call 111 and select option two for mental health crisis.
There is a dedicated crisis line number for GPs – 01375 364633. The service is for people aged 18 and over and is provided by EPUT.
Action for practices: To help remind you of the number to call, why not print it off, laminate it and stick it to your wall?
For more information visit: Urgent and emergency mental health services - Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership (msehealthandcarepartnership.co.uk)
Pulse oximetry for people with darker skin
There have been some reports on the accuracy of pulse oximeters for people with darker skin. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance published on 26 March notes that it is possible that patients with lighter skin may have small differences in the result reported when compared to those with darker skin (along with other well-known factors), however, they are not aware of any incidents where skin colour has had an adverse effect on the use of pulse oximeters when providing effective clinical care.
Existing guidance on COVID Oximetry @home and COVID virtual wards takes this potential factor into account by recommending recording of baseline readings and monitoring trends, as well as using clinical judgement to remain vigilant for other signs of deterioration. Therefore, it remains important that everyone who could benefit has access and support to use pulse oximetry effectively at home to identify silent hypoxia. Please contact [email protected] with any queries about remote monitoring using pulse oximetry.
If you or your local colleagues are being approached by journalists around this topic, or if you have any concerns or questions please contact [email protected], or similarly, the CCGs can also support member practices in the event of media enquiries – please email [email protected] if you are approached.
Macmillan GPs Cancer Update April 2021
Please find below a link to update an overview update on cancer projects taking place locally. Please drop the Macmillan GP leads an email should you wish to discuss anything further.
Arden & GEM IT Update
Arden & GEM IT will be deploying an updated version of the desktop background information, this will include device patch compliance status and a shortcut to manually patch the device. The change will be deployed Monday 19th April 2021.
Education and Training
MSE Training Hub: Forthcoming training opportunities and events
Please follow the links below for more information:
- Online Event: Being a GP
- Peer Mentoring for GPs
- Coaching for non-clinical primary care staff
To join the MSE Training Hub mailing list, please email [email protected].
Follow us on Twitter @MSETrainingHub
GP Education Event – Lower GI and FIT with Q&A Session
Following feedback with our GP colleagues around the FIT programme, we have listened and set up a cancer education session around lower GI and FIT Testing. MSE Macmillan GPs are organising a webinar outlining the new proposed lower GI and FIT changes and guidance. This will include short presentations from Mr Greg Wynn, Consultant Laparoscopic Surgeon at Colchester and Chair of the East of England Colorectal Network and Gini Melesi, Head of Transformation Programmes, East of England Cancer Alliance.
There will be an opportunity for a question and answer session.
Agenda for the session will look like the below:
- 12-1205 Introductions
- 1205-1215 Mr Greg Wynn FIT and the Lower GI Pathway (EoE NCG Chair)
- 1215-1225 Local MSE Consultant (TBC) FIT and The Lower GI Pathway MSE
- 1235-1245 Linda Hunter FIT, Evolving Guidance and Primary Care
- 1245-1300 Q+A
The webinar will be on Wednesday 12th May 2021, 12-1pm, via teams and will be open to all GPs. Please forward this invite on to any colleagues who would be interested to join the webinar.
Please hold Ctrl & click on the following link to sign up (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gp-cancer-education-series-lower-gi-and-fit-tickets-151783547677) for this FREE event. Details on how to join the webinar will be sent separately once you have registered.
Best wishes,
Dr Liz Towers (Macmillan GP Mid Essex)
Dr Deepak Kumar (Macmillan GP Basildon and Brentwood)
Dr Mark Metcalfe (Macmillan GP Castle Point and Rochford)
Dr Andrea Oustayiannis (Macmillan GP Thurrock)
For Information
NHS Wider Roles in Primary Care animation
NHSE/I have developed a new animation about the wider roles available in primary care. The animation explains the multidisciplinary team that is available to help look after people’s health, highlighting that they are there to help people get the right care at the right time. Please feel free to download the animation below and use it across your own channels to help people familiarise themselves with the wider roles available in primary care.
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.