Primary Care E-bulletin (Issue 41) - 1 June 2020

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Reminder: infection control training
• Reminder: COVID-19 primary care communications survey
• General practice during COVID-19 (SOP)
• Risk Assessments for BAME staff members
• Doctorlink
• GP connect: direct booking update
• Antibody testing: local update
• Online interviews during COVID-19
• Gathering local insight re: experiences during COVID-19
• RCGP guide to video consultations
• Spotting signs of child abuse
• RCGP diabetes hub
• Warning for vulnerable or elderly patients re: text message

Reminder: Infection Control Training

We would also like to remind you that there are a further two planned sessions of Infection Control training by the Mid and South Essex Infection Control Team scheduled via Microsoft Teams for Tuesday 2nd June, 1pm – 2pm and Tuesday 9th June, 1pm – 2pm.

If you would like to attend, please email: [email protected]

For action

Reminder: COVID-19 primary care communications survey

We are keen to find out what you think has worked, what you want to keep, what you want us to stop and any ideas to improve our approach to primary care communications. We would really appreciate it if you could spend five minutes to share your thoughts to inform next steps.

The deadline for completing the survey is Monday 8 June.

Support with day-to-day issues

General Practice during COVID-19 (SOP)

This guidance applies to general practices operating under contract to the NHS in England, including those providers who operate outside core GP contract hours.

We trust healthcare professionals to use their clinical judgement when applying this guidance in what we appreciate is a highly challenging, rapidly changing environment.

Reminder: Risk assessments for BAME staff members

Please visit the HR guidance section of the website to help inform local risk assessments to understand particular risks and concerns of your BAME team members. We have also updated our main page around this on our website, which you can access by following the link below.

HR guidance

Doctorlink

As of Friday 29th May, 106 out of the 151 Practices within mid and south Essex have now completed the implementation of the Doctorlink online consultation system.  So far nearly 13,500 patients have registered in the system and our patients have carried out just over 5,000 symptom assessments.  

Note: there is no limit re. training, log-on details for the E-Learning sent to nominated staff in the Practice can be shared with all members of staff. If you have any training queries please call: Doctorlink  07907 778997

We are aware of some confusion re. a communication from Doctorlink informing you that the “Routine Appointment” functionality has been turned on. We believe this has been sent in error, further communication will follow.

We are keen to capture your experience of using Doctorlink and provide support to make sure we realise the benefits of this system, please email: [email protected] with all feedback.

GP Connect: Direct booking update

There is currently a technical issue with the GP Connect configuration with our local NHS 111 Provider, IC24, this is currently being investigated by NHS Digital.

Until this has been resolved we are suspending direct booking from IC24 into GP Practices. However this functionality is still live for other NHS 111 Providers and therefore practices should continue to monitor the NHS 111 rota to ensure that no patients are missed.

Antibody testing: Local update

As a system, nationally or locally the stance on the purpose of antibody testing is to better understand the spread of Covid-19 via National surveillance.

Capacity amongst laboratories and phlebotomy services are needed prior to its local launch. Further information about arrangements in mid and south Essex will follow as soon as possible.

It is important to reiterate that the science is currently uncertain and a positive test result for antibodies only means than an individual has had COVID-19.

There is currently no evidence to show it means someone cannot be re-infected with the virus, or pass it on to others, or have protective immunity.

Online interviews during COVID-19

Please visit the digital section of the website to see suggested tips to help ensure interviews held remotely run smoothly and effectively.

Updates from wider system in mid and south Essex

Gathering local insight about experiences during COVID-19

A survey is being sent to local residents across mid and south Essex to capture experiences and understand local concerns to aid future decisions making around new ways of working in response to the pandemic.

The results will be available to all PCN Clinical Directors to support the ambition to work with local people and communities. To make the results as meaningful as possible, please encourage as many people as possible to complete the survey – it has been sent to PPG groups via a system newsletter.

For information

RCGP guide to video consultations

NHSE/I in conjunction with RCGP have published new guidance on video consultations. This guidance is aimed at all NHS general practice staff who are consulting via video with patients at home. It includes the key principles for safely assessing patients using a video consultation.

Spotting signs of child abuse

The links below, to a letter and poster from C.C. Simon Bailey (National Police Chiefs’ Council), are designed for neighbours and key workers visiting premises during the COVID-19 crisis.

It outlines signs to be mindful of and how to report any concerns if you believe a child or young person may be being abused.

RCGP diabetes hub

The RCGP has just launched a new Diabetes Hub, featuring six brand new learning resources and up-to-date guidance on the management of diabetes in primary care.

Warning for vulnerable or elderly patients

We have been warned about a text message being sent to elderly/vulnerable people.

The text message which claims to be from the NHS states that someone will collect the person in the next few weeks to take them to hospital to have a COVID-19 test.

It also mentions having an overnight bag ready as they may have to stay in hospital.

If an elderly or vulnerable patient mentions this, please report any concerns to the police.