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15 April 2020

All attachments can be found here

Dear colleague

Please find below the latest GP update regarding Covid-19.

You will find this update with links to the files on the new North West London password-protected site page. You can also review the full list of Covid-19 related service changes, to ensure you have not missed any notices.

Website: https://www.nwlondonccg.nhs.uk/professionals/coronavirus-clinical
Password: NWLCovid-19
 
Today’s update includes:

  • Paediatric care: information re children with Covid-19 symptoms or other illnesses during the pandemic 
  • Message from NHSEI: preparedness letter for GPs
  • Important notices from the NW London IT and Cyber Security team

 
Paediatric care: information re children with Covid-19 symptoms or other illnesses during the pandemic 

Children with Covid-19 often do not have symptoms. Under 5s who are febrile are likely to have a non-Covid infection. Children under 5 years should not be referred to an escalated care clinic (hub) but instead be seen at their registered practice. In hours children aged from 5 up to their 12th birthday are to be triaged by their practice in order to take into consideration wider diagnostics and family factors and only booked into an escalated care clinic if there is a substantial reason to believe they are infected with Covid.   If you consider that you do need to see the child face to face you can let them in a side door and into your consulting room. 
 
Please follow this link: https://what0-18.nhs.uk/professionals/gp-primary-care-staff/clinical-pathways/clinical-pathways-remote-assessment from Southampton about undertaking remote assessment for children. In addition the paediatric team at your local hospital is available in the attached directory to support you with management of the child’s condition as many children are already known to the local hospital team.
 
A flow chart for the community-based management of illness in children during this coronavirus period is available here.
 

Message from NHSEI: preparedness letter for GPs

ACTION: Read the letter in the link below

The latest guidance letter for general practice was published today and contains updates on changes to the GP Contract Regulations, NHS immunisations and child health surveillance as well as details on other guidance that has recently been published.

Child Health Information Services (CHIS)

The latest GP preparedness letter includes information on the importance of maintaining the routine immunisation programme. The Child Health Information Services (CHIS) and the systems which support them ensure that each child in England has an accurate active record supporting delivery of public health interventions including; screening, immunisation and the other Healthy Child Programme services. CHIS providers will continue to deliver these services during the COVID-19 incident.

It is important that all clinical colleagues ensure that each child’s CHIS record is up to date by ensuring the timely transfer of data from clinical systems to the local CHIS provider. This will ensure those involved in the care for young children will have access to contemporaneous health record to support any rescheduling and catch-up programmes at a later date for those who have missed appointments for public health programmes. CHIS are the definitive source of immunisation uptake and coverage data within England and, as such, are essential to limiting the spread of communicable diseases. This is important to monitor and ensure uptake levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event of a cluster or an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, CHIS is the primary source of information to help target resources. 

 
Important notices from the NW London IT and Cyber Security team

ACTION: You can read the full notice here, including Zoom safety guide should you choose to use it outside work. As always, the password is NWLCovid-19. 
  • Turn off Alexa or similar devices during work related calls: If you have an Amazon Alexa or similar device, please make sure it is switched off while you are having work related phone and videoconference calls.
  • Do not use Zoom for work-related meetings: Zoom is not supported for work related meetings and we do not advise that staff use Zoom for this purpose. NHSmail users should use the existing conferencing tools like WebEx or Microsoft Teams for work meetings. We have heard about the misuse of the Zoom app, with external parties being able to eavesdrop on private meetings and conversations. We advise that staff only use Zoom for personal and not work-related calls. The full guidance available via the link above will help you choose another platform for tele or video conferences and will also help you protect yourself, should you choose Zoom for personal use.