Primary care bulletin - 31 January 2024
Bulletin:
GP cancer bulletin; Autumn/Winter covid and flu campaign update; best practice for cervical screen takers and more

Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin

Key points this week include:
  • GP cancer bulletin
  • Autumn/Winter 2023 Covid-19 and flu campaign update
  • Best practice for cervical screen takers
  • Soho Walk-In Centre service restoration update
  • PCN laptops and desktops supply
  • Training, webinars and more

GP cancer bulletin


This edition of the cancer bulletin includes:

JOB OPPORTUNITY:  Primary Care Cancer Clinical Lead role – Harrow and Hounslow (for GPs)
Macmillan’s new Practical Implementation Guide for Cancer Care Reviews (for all practice staff)
BOOK NOW: Cancer Nurse and Allied Health Professional Conference: Friday 8th March 2024 (for practice nurses)
West London Primary Care education opportunities (for all practice staff)

Autumn/Winter 2023 COVID-19 and flu campaign update


COVID-19 vaccination update

Please note that Autumn/Winter 2023 campaign to all eligible cohorts for a COVID-19 vaccination will be ending on 31 January 2024. 

Anyone who wishes to receive a COVID-19 vaccination after this date will need to wait for an opportunity at the next vaccination campaign when it is announced.

Who will continue to be eligible 

Only severely immunosuppressed individuals including newly diagnosed aged 6 months and over will continue to be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. 

This will be based on a clinical judgement and aligned to the recommendation in the Green Book. Vaccination will be provided under a prescriber model and tailored to
the individual.
 
NWL website will be update soon with the details of site(s) that will offer this provision after 31 January 2024. 

Flu vaccination update

The last day of Flu vaccination for all eligible cohorts for the Autumn/Winter 23 campaign will be 31 March 2024.

Best practice for cervical screen takers


FAO: Clinical staff

NHSE has notified the NWL ICB Chief Nurse about a healthcare professional performing cervical screens within one of the NWL General Practices without adhering to the cervical screening training requirements.

While this case needs investigating and for us to learn from, all practices must continue to ensure cervical screening takers meet the required training and updates to perform this procedure.

All cervical screeners must:
  • Be registered with their designated regulatory body.
  • Have attended a recognised cervical screening takers training, which includes theory and supervised practice
  • Have their practice portfolio submitted and signed off?
  • Have an individual and unique cervical screening code that must be included in all cervical screening requests.
  • All cervical screening samples must be requested through Tquest. This ensures an auditable trace of the sample and adheres to governance.
  • All cervical screening takers must complete a three-yearly update. This can be accessed via the e-learning for Health website.
Further best practice information is available below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-cervical-screening-programme-good-practice-guidance-for-sample-takers/nhs-cervical-screening-programme-good-practice-guidance-for-sample-takers

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-cervical-sample-taker-training/training-for-cervical-sample-takers-education-pathway 

If you require any support or have any queries, please contact your Borough Professional Lead. 
Mouse over and click the edit button to add your own content / customise the appearance of this block.

When you click on the edit button, you will notice that the menu bar is split into two tabs.

The first tab (content) enables you to type your own content text.

By using the second tab (style), you can customise how this block looks - quickly changing spacing, colours and more!

Soho Walk-In Centre service restoration update


FAO: Clinical staff and those making referrals

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust are happy to announce that Soho Walk-In Centre is continuing in its service restoration and is now open on Thursday and Friday from 8.00am-6.00pm for booked appointment only. It will be led by two nurse practitioners effective from 18 January 2024.

Access to service

The service will be directly bookable into via SystmOne by E-hubs, GPs and NHS 111.  

Booking an appointment

To book an appointment, an econsult or equivalent will need to be completed and visible on SystmOne to demonstrate a clinical triage. This gives assurance that the patient meets the criteria and is appropriate for the service. The appointment will be open and bookable 7.00am onwards for an appointment that day.
 
Just to empathise there is no walk-in pathway at Soho Walk-In Centre it is currently an appointment only service, please see attached criteria to ensure you are booking patients within service scope.

We hope this supports system partners and will continue to focus on restoring the service further, any questions please contact rachel.dines1@nhs.net or lucyirving@nhs.net

PCN laptops and desktops supply  


The ICB currently have a limited stock of laptops and desktop computers available for PCN and ARRS use. 

If practices within PCNs are fully utilising all the existing laptops and desktops that have been allocated and there are PCN/ARRS staff employed that require devices, please submit requests to the Service Desk by following the attached guide. 

Accompanying guide notes. 

If you don’t have an icon/shortcut you can use the web address to reach the portal: https://selfserviceportal.nw.london.nhs.uk/Heat 

Inventory information for this stock of equipment can be provided upon request. Requests will be approved, subject to assessment and availability of stock.

Education and training

Digital first


Upcoming online consultation training and action learning opportunities

Sign up now to secure your place

The action learning sets are designed to share lessons learnt, discuss scenarios, share practical tips and tricks and connect with colleagues in other PCNs and boroughs. Find out more about how online consultations are used/can be maximised.

Virtual patchs action learning set date

6th February 2024 @13.30-15.45

eConsult action learning set dates

Perceval House, 14/16 Uxbridge Road
5th March 2024 @ 13.30-15.45

*12th March 2024 @ 13.30-15.45

* Can be altered to virtual if enough interest, please email your preference.

Sign up now to secure your place on the Learning Hub https://www.nwllearning.nhs.uk/course/view.php?id=338#section-0

Or email: nhsnwl.oc@nhs.net with your name, role, practice and choice of date

NW London primary care enhanced services training


FAO: Clinical staff

Click here to download the enhanced services training newsletter. The news letter is a one page glance at what is happening with training across the services.