15 January 2021
Documents can be found here
If you are receiving this update as a practice manager, please make sure you do share it with your colleagues, including sessional GPs.
Ask of the week – Revised guidance on second doses of Covid vaccines
Action: A template letter has been issue that GPs and practice staff colleagues can use to explain the revised guidance on second doses of Covid vaccines.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued revised guidance on optimising the COVID-19 vaccination programme for maximum short-term impact.
In summary, the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases, with many more patients in hospitals plus the new more contagious variant of the virus has meant we need to increase the speed at which patients and frontline health and care workers are vaccinated.
The first dose of both current vaccines give a high level of protection so the revised guidance is that vaccinating more people with a single dose will prevent more deaths and hospitalisations than vaccinating a smaller number of people with two doses. By prioritising first dose vaccinations, we can vaccinate twice as many people in the next two to three months.
Given the need to vaccinate as many people as possible, including all frontline health and care staff, appointments for the second dose of both vaccines are being rearranged to take place close to 12 weeks after the first dose. This will apply across all vaccination sites in North West London.
Link to revised JVCI guidance here .
For GPs in Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham – West London Trust issues revised list of changes to local community and mental health services
Action: Please read and digest the list of service amendments made in response to the national lockdown and current demands on the NHS system. This covers:
· Crisis and Urgent Mental Health Services
· Community Mental Health Services
· Related services
· Integrated Care Services (ICS) including Ealing Community Partners
Current public messaging
Action: Please read and use current public message to inform discussions with patients and to use in your communications. Please ensure shared with/used in any briefings with staff.
Attached is a collation of public messaging on a range of issues including:
· National lockdown guidance for NW London residents
· Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
· Covid-19 vaccination
· Accessing your GP at this time
· Help Us Help You – access Mental Health services
· Testing
· Flu
· Winter
The public messaging is updated regularly – so please keep an eye out for these changes.
For more information, contact nwlccgs.communications.nwl@nhs.net
