6 August 2020
Documents can be found here
Dear colleague
Please find below the latest GP update regarding Covid-19. If you are receiving this update as a practice manager, please make sure you do share it with your colleagues, including sessional GPs.
You can view the North West London password-protected GP extranet homepage using the details below.
As always, you are advised to review the full list of Covid-19-related service changes, including restarts, on a regular basis, to ensure you have not missed any notices.
Website: https://www.nwlondonccg.nhs.uk/professionals/coronavirus-clinical
Password: NWLCovid-19
Today’s update includes:
- Changes to Government guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid-19
- Escalated Care Clinic Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updated
- Message from DHSC and PHE: annual flu letter update
- Annual vaccination training updates
- A guide for GPs on FIT testing for high risk patients
- Primary care workforce update
- BCG event from NHSEI
- #LookingAfterYouToo coaching offer for primary care staff
Changes to Government guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid-19
ACTION: Read advice below and full letter
The Government has updated its advice for clinically extremely vulnerable patients to say that those who were advised to shield during the peak of the pandemic in England, do not have to do so at the moment. This is because the rates of transmission of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the community have fallen significantly. Full advice for patients can be found here.
Revised shielding letter template for use that reflects new shielding guidance
NHS Digital has also released a new letter for use when communicating with any of your patients you newly identify as needing to be added to the Shielded Patient List. Additional information can be found here.
Escalated Care Clinic Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updated
ACTION: Note the updates to the SOPs here
Please note that the Escalated Care Clinic SOP has been updated:
- The timings for the respiratory advice and guidance line have changed
- Further clarification has been added on the care of children
Message from DHSC and PHE: annual flu letter update
ACTION: Read the letter in full and commit to flu vaccination goals
This year, more than ever, we need to protect those most at risk from flu. Thank you for all your hard work in these very challenging times. This Annual Flu Letter has the support of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, the NHS Chief Nursing Officer for England and the Public Health England Chief Nurse.
The national flu immunisation programme 2020 to 2021 update covers the following points:
- Expansion of the programme
- Vaccine supply
- Infection prevention and control when administering vaccines
- Delivering the programme during the pandemic
- Communications and Marketing
Annual vaccination training updates
ACTION: Ensure you complete training
All vaccinators in primary care should have annual vaccination training updates in line with PHE standards. In the London Region, we have commissioned free webinars from PHE (London).
Here are the details of the 2020 dates: Webinar Flyer July to December 2020.
A guide for GPs on FIT testing for high risk patients
ACTION: Watch the video here
This video offers a guide on the importance of dispensing a FIT test before referral into an urgent pathway.
Primary care workforce update
ACTION: If you are a PCN Clinical Director with an interest in workforce, please contact maggie.neale@nhs.net
We are working hard to develop primary care workforce capacity and want to ensure we have full Primary Care Networks (PCN) Clinical Director representation in the workforce agenda. If you are a PCN Clinical Director with an interest in workforce, we would love you to join our primary care workforce group. Please contact maggie.neale@nhs.net for more details.
BCG event from NHSEI
NHS England and NHS Improvement is holding a BCG Event on Tuesday 11 August 2020 at 12 – 1pm.
We aim to outline the reasons for changing the way we deliver BCG vaccine to babies in London and answer any queries you may have prior to 1 September 2020.
The neonatal BCG immunisation programme will no longer be offered universally in London through Maternity Units, it will instead be targeted to those infants most at risk of exposure to TB delivered though community providers. This will bring the London region in line with the rest of England.
The event will be live, so you will not be able to ask questions verbally on the day, only through the chat box.
We welcome any questions you may have prior to the event. Please send your questions to england.londonimms@nhs.net by Thursday 6 August 2020.
Please click on the link to join the event.
If you have trouble joining the event, try these steps
- Restart your router.
- Leave event and re-join.
- Ensure you are not streaming anything else.
Guidance is available to help you to join the briefing and ask questions.
#LookingAfterYouToo coaching offer for primary care staff
ACTION: Download more information here
NHS England and Improvement recognise that staff in primary care roles are currently facing many challenges, which is why they’re supporting the frontline workforce with an individual coaching offer called #LookingAfterYouToo. Available seven days a week, 7:15am – 10:00pm, staff can book a slot with experienced coaches at a date and time that suits them. Download the comms briefing pack.
