8 January 2021
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
Action: For those GP practices using Pinnacle, the Pinnacle IT team ask that GP staff make a new data entry record for a patient when they have their second vaccination dose. They ask you not to search for a patient record and amend an existing first dose record.
The first dose record is a clinical record of that intervention with answers to screening and vaccine information that may well be different at a second presentation.
To enter second vaccinations go to the service screen and start a new record for the patient making sure you select the second dose at the point of administration.
All patients will have two records when the vaccine course is complete
For more information email contactus@futureservices.org.uk
Re-scheduling the 2nd dose of the Covid-19 vaccine; payment now done for each dose delivered
Action: Read the letter from NHSE London Regional Office, advising to prioritise first dose of COVID vaccine delivery. Also read a further letter which outlines practical issues around this including a new method of payment for delivering the two vaccine doses.
The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Infection (JCVI) advises that delivery of the first dose to as many eligible individuals as possible should be initially prioritised over delivery of a second vaccine dose. This should maximise the short-term impact of the programme.
- The second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may be given between 3 to 12 weeks following the first dose.
- The second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine may be given between 4 to 12 weeks following the first dose.
The new medical advice is that the second dose of the vaccine remains effective when given up to 12 weeks after the first dose, and should be given towards the end of this 12 week period. The new guidance will also help ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible. This will allow organisations to maximise the numbers of staff receiving protection from the first dose of vaccine. It is hoped this will reduce the numbers of staff affected by the virus.
Updates to the Covid vaccine SOP for those delivering in the community
Action: If you are delivering the COVID-19 vaccine in your GP practice, please read the updated vaccination in a community setting Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), noting new information highlighted in yellow
This document is also available online https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination-programme/primary-care-guidance/
NHSE support to free up GP practices
Action: Please find attached letter from NHSEI setting out the further support that will be taken to free up GPs, practice teams and PCNs to advance the vaccine rollout.
The letter includes information on what support NHSE is providing nationally, and what CCGs are asked to do locally by NHSE. Given the additional pressure GP practices are facing, many of whom are now providing the covid-19 vaccine programme, extra resource is being allocated to help support the effort.
Need help organising volunteers to support Covid vaccination? read our new handbook for PCNs
Action: Read the NW London handbook for PCNs, which shares how to approach the recruitment and on-boarding of volunteers, to support Covid-19 vaccination.
This guide provides an initial starting point for Primary Care Networks (PCNs) who are considering using volunteers during the COVID crisis to support vaccination. Topics covered include:
- Things to consider before you start
- Potential roles for volunteers
- Routes to recruitment
- Checks, training and on-boarding volunteers
- Useful resources
- FAQs
UCLH update for GPs
Action: Read the service summary from UCLH and continue to refer patients for outpatient appointments via the NHS e-referral service:
- If there are no slots available, then refer using 'Defer to Provider'
- Some services will be changing to a referral assessment service, where the referral will be triaged before booking. The patient booking team will then contact patients with appointments.
- Continue to use the advice and guidance function of the e-referral service.
To keep abreast of changes, please visit the home page of the UCLH website, where there is a link to COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Information for patients and visitors. This contains a regularly updated section on service updates.
Covid vaccine supply chain FAQs for PCNs
Action: Read the latest FAQs that NHSE have written, answering questions about the supply of Covid-19 vaccines to PCNs
The FAQs cover supply of the COVID-19 vaccine starting from w/c 07/12/2020 and until the end of January 2021 (including the December 23rd roll-out of the Roving Model). This content is valid for as long as the delivery models are active and the out of the Roving Model).
This content is valid for as long as the delivery models are active and the two first vaccines aforementioned are in distribution.
NHSE have created a new Care Home vaccination FAQ
Action: Please find attached the latest FAQs for the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment: Care Home FAQs version 1, up to date as of 6 January 2021.
Safety information for those who have had the Covid-19 vaccine when pregnant
Action: Read the guidance for health professionals to share with pregnant women immunised with COVID-19 vaccines
This advice provides information on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines when given in pregnancy. It is designed for health professionals to share with women who were vaccinated before they knew they were pregnant.
An information leaflet about the vaccine, for women of childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding is available to download.
Information to share with patients about the Covid-19 vaccination programme in NW London
Action: Please signpost patients who are inquiring about the COVID-19 vaccine to the NWL CCG’s website. Public information reads as follows:
We are working to vaccinate everyone in the first priority group (those over 80 and at high risk) as quickly as possible. This will take time but we are committed to getting all people in this group by the end of February 2021.
We know it can be frustrating to see some people being offered the vaccine when you have not yet heard about your own; we are opening all our vaccination sites as quickly as possible and we will get to you soon. We will also to start vaccinate those over 75 from early February, but again this will take time to get to everyone, please bear with us.
The NHS will contact you when we are able to offer you an appointment, this will either be a letter or phone call from your GP. If you miss the phone call please don’t worry, we will call again or send you a letter.
Please also be aware some people may receive two invites. If this happens, please pick the site you would prefer to go for your vaccination and follow the booking-in advice provided. You can ignore the second invite.
You can find more details here Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Free digital health support for residents in NW London
Action: Signpost patients to the NHS NW London Health Apps library, to help them manage their health conditions effectively, using the wide range of free health tools and information
In November 2020, the NHS in North West London launched a new digital Health Apps Library website for the local population. Working with the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA), the service aims to make it quicker and easier for patients, residents and health care professionals to access safe, accredited health and wellbeing apps, which can make a real difference to people’s live
Digital health apps are a fantastic opportunity to provide people in their homes and communities with important health tools and information. They help support people to manage their health conditions (e.g. asthma, mental health conditions) and live healthier and happier lives through exercise and healthy living.
For more information about how to navigate the site, please take a look at this training video. You can also contact George Absi, Project Lead at North West London CCGs: george.absi1@nhs.net
For more information, contact nwlccgs.communications.nwl@nhs.net.
