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4 June 2020

All documents can be found here

Dear colleague

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

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 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:

  • Message from NHSE: Update to guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding)
  • Shielded patient radar go-live
  • NW London GP Quick reference guide to EOL services
  • Recovery of pre-Covid cervical screening services
  • Respiratory Advice Line moving to Monday-Friday
  • Principles of safe video consulting
  • Advice from Asthma UK for parents of children with asthma
  • Safeguarding Children during Covid-19, West London CCG Training Hub for NW London
  • Staff wellbeing: keeping well in NW London

 

Message from NHSE: Update to guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding)

ACTION: Note the message in full                

You will have seen that the Government has updated the guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19 and have been advised to shield. The update from Government comes into effect from today. In summary the changes are:

The advice for people identified as clinically extremely vulnerable is that they should continue to shield until at least the 30 June but from 1 June, they can spend a short period of time outdoors each day with members of their household, still maintaining 2m distance from others.

  • If the shielded person lives alone, the Government is advising they can meet one other person from a different household, maintaining strict social distancing. The advice is that this be the same person each time.
  • Important aspects of Government’s policy and guidance remain the same. Apart from going outside once per day, a shielded person should continue to avoid all non-essential face to face contact. This means they should still not go shopping or to pharmacies.
  • The support for shielded people remains in place and unchanged.

The Government has also confirmed that it will be reviewing shielding guidance alongside wider changes to social distancing, including plans to write to those on the shielding patients list with information about next steps on shielding after the next review on 15 June. 

 

Shielded patient radar go-live

ACTION: View the Shielded Patient Radar on the WSIC dashboard

The Shielded Patient Radar is now live on the Whole Systems Integrated Care (WSIC) dashboard. A further set of Covid-19 Dashboards are also now available.

A demonstration video is available on YouTube here.

Questions or feedback can be sent to: nwlccgs.wsic.dashboards@nhs.net.

                                                                                

NW London GP Quick reference guide to EOL services

ACTION: Print out and keep NW London GP Quick Reference Guide to EOL services (and share feedback using the details below) 

Via the link you will find an updated version of NW London GP Quick Reference Guide to EOL services which you are encouraged to print out so you have easy access to the document as needed. 

This NW London guide is intended to support GPs and other community services (including NHS111 OOH GPs) to:

  • Give a quick overview of the generalist and specialist palliative and end of life care services in each of the boroughs
  • Show services hours of operation (in hours and out of hours)
  • Provide the most direct telephone numbers to facilitate direct contact for expert medical advice  24/7
  • Show the level of medical advice within each services (i.e. CNS or consultant)
  • Strengthen the use of the local arrangements already in place.

You will see on the last page of the document, GPs and clinicians are invited to email michelle.scaife@nhs.net and katie.smith44@nhs.net with their feedback about the ease of use of the guide, as well as their experience of using the telephone numbers provided and suggestions of how this tool can be improved in future iterations.

 

Recovery of pre-Covid cervical screening services

ACTION: Read this document from Cervical Screening London in full

On May 20 2020, NHSE issued further guidance in the letter shown which advises that women identified as high risk should now be offered the opportunity to have cervical screening. If there is additional capacity consideration may also be given to offering appointments to women who have received an invitation or reminder letter but have not yet attended for screening due to the Covid crisis.

 

Respiratory Advice Line moving to Monday-Friday

Please note that the Respiratory Advice Line that GPs and Escalated Care clinics can access is moving from 7 days a week to Monday to Friday (the hours will remain 9am-6pm).

 

Principles of safe video consulting in general practice during Covid-19

ACTION: Read the Royal College of GPs guidance on safe video consulting here

This guidance is aimed at NHS general practice staff who are consulting via video with patients at home (although the key principles are expected to apply to practitioners across wider primary care). Practitioners are expected to have full access to the patient’s primary care medical record and to be consulting with patients in England. The Royal College of GPs will update this guide.

You can send feedback to: england.digitalfirstprimarycare@nhs.net.

 

Advice from Asthma UK for parents of children with asthma

ACTION: View the advice here

Asthma UK has updated a page on their website advising parents how they can prepare their children for going back to school - and including tips to cut the risk of them having an asthma attack.  

They have also published a blog by Dr Louise Fleming from the Royal Brompton​ Hospital about children, asthma and the risk of Covid-19, which you can read here.

 

Safeguarding Children during Covid-19, West London CCG Training Hub for NW London

ACTION: View full webinar details here

Wednesday 10 June webinar: 1pm – 2pm. No pre-registration required.

Join via the MS Teams link:  Link to Safeguarding Children webinar

 

Staff wellbeing: keeping well in NW London

This is part of the NW London system wide staff wellbeing offer designed to provide rapid access to support in a variety of ways, including a ‘live-chat’ where health and care workers can, in confidence, talk to expert clinicians about any personal or professional challenges that are impacting on their stress, anxiety or mood. This could be new mental health symptoms or a worsening of pre-existing difficulties.

 To access the service:

Although Mental Health Awareness Week has passed, we still encourage staff to prioritise their mental wellbeing, reflect on their emotions, connect with others and seek help if and when they need it.

If you would like any further information please visit the wellbeing page on Collabor8.

You can also download this poster for a full list of wellbeing services available to you.