Primary care bulletin - 21 August 2024
Bulletin:
Update on Mpox; pharmacy bank holiday opening hours; measles update; and more.

Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin

Key points this week include:
  • Update on Clade 1 Mpox
  • Pharmacy opening hours for Summer Bank Holiday 26 August 2024
  • Measles update
  • Notification of IT Issue Affecting Delivery of Patient GP Reports
  • 9 September 2024 is the go-live date for changes to the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and the statutory use of the Medical Examiners Service
  • Launch of fit testing for respiratory protective equipment service for London based health care workers
  • Flu update
  • We want help from those who gave birth early
  • Burnout group - NW London Keeping Well
Training and webinars including:
  • Invitation for 7th NW London Polypharmacy Community of Practice
  • Polypharmacy Action Learning Set Foundation Course
There are also various job opportunities in the bulletin.

If you have any submissions for this bulletin please email them to the communications inbox - nhsnwl.communications.nwl@nhs.net deadline for content is 3pm Monday (or 12pm Tuesday following a Monday bank holiday)

To view any previous editions click here
Update on Clade 1 Mpox

We understand that the current mpox situation is likely to raise anxiety and generate an increase in enquiries and/or requests for vaccination and thus we wanted to share the current advice from NHS London and UKHSA.

Currently, there are no cases of Clade 1 Mpox confirmed in the UK. We are closely monitoring the situation with regional and national agencies and teams to understand any additional changes. We will await further advice, changes or updates as soon as it becomes available from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), UKHSA or national teams.

At this time, services have been asked to maintain the current position for London and this is for sexual health services to continue to vaccinate high risk GBMSM populations for Mpox as outlined in the green book, chapter 29 Smallpox and mpox (monkeypox): the green book, chapter 29.

Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, provides the following advice on Mpox:

The risk to the UK population is currently considered low. However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK. This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission.

Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It also can cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

The infection can be passed on through contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals.

People are advised to follow the NHS advice on mpox.

More information can be found here.
Pharmacy opening hours for Summer Bank Holiday 26 August 2024

Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies. This table provides the opening hours for pharmacies in North West London which have been asked to open over Monday 26 August 2024.

There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed. If the pharmacy you would like to visit is not listed here, then you can check their opening hours by searching here or by calling NHS 111.
Measles update

We wanted to provide colleagues with a brief update as regards the ongoing situation with measles both here in NW London and more broadly across London. Recent UKHSA data suggests a slowing in the number of confirmed cases in NW London but some indication that other areas of London are still seeing a rising number of cases. It is acknowledged that with the schools on summer break this may be acting as a natural ‘fire-breaker’ and helping to reduce the spread of new infections but there are still some concerns that with children travelling abroad to high incidence areas for a holiday we may see new cases emerge as a result. Hence, can we please ask colleagues to continue to offer MMR vaccination appointments at a range of times throughout the day to enable parents to book a time that is convenient for them especially if parents are planning to travel abroad over the coming weeks. We also wanted to acknowledge the incredible work of colleagues over the last few months especially in terms of providing additional clinic capacity as well as undertaking other efforts such as running outreach events etc. which are clearly helping to reduce the spread of measles in NW London. 
Notification of IT Issue affecting delivery of patient GP reports

An IT issue that has come to our attention. The issue affects the inclusion of patient reports in the regular pathology GP result feed on the 22/23 April 2024 and for some locations the 18 June, affecting the inclusion of patient reports in the regular pathology GP result feeds.

Read more and find out about the remedial action being taken in September.
9 September 2024 is the go-live date for changes to the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and the statutory use of the Medical Examiners Service

All information on the changes can be found in this update.

All GP practices/GPs will need to refer all non-coronial deaths to the Medical Examiner (ME) Service from 9 September 2024.

This is a national statutory date for this rollout and delays will occur for the next of kin registering a death if the new process is not followed from 9 September 2024.

Read the full details here.
Launch of fit testing for respiratory protective equipment service for London based health care workers

We are pleased to announce the launch of a fit testing service for Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) specifically for health care workers (HCWs) in London. The service will go live for bookings from 11 June 2024, with fit testing sessions available to book from 1 July 2024. This service is accessible to HCWs working in primary care e.g. general practitioners and dental teams. Read more here.

Frequently asked questions are attached.
Flu update

As we head towards the flu season, we are sharing keys bits of info as they filter through. Click here for the update.
We want help from those who gave birth early

We are interested in hearing from those who live in London and had a preterm baby (gave birth early - ideally between 22 to 34 weeks), and/or their partner/main supporter.

We’re very interested to hear from black and south Asian families as studies show they are more likely to have a preterm baby, but we welcome people of all ethnicities.

Residents can find out how to volunteer and what it entails here.
Burnout group - NW London Keeping Well

Is work stress affecting your mental health and leading to you feeling burnt out?  

Keeping Well North West London will be facilitating the Burnout Group which will be running for 6 consecutive weeks, starting on Wednesday 11 September 2024, 3.30 – 5pm. 

The sessions will incorporate Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocols as a means of promoting positive wellbeing using psychological techniques, reflective exercises and group discussions.     

Spaces are limited for these sessions and staff members can use the self-referral form and select the option " Burnout group".  Please note that this is a closed group and attendees are encouraged to attend every session.  

Job Opportunities

The following roles are now available on NHS Jobs 


Closing date is 22 August 2024

Clinical Lead – Diabetes (interim cover – Sept 2024 to April 2025)

Clinical Lead - Urgent and Emergency Care

Clinical Lead - General Practice Website and Resource Development (new role)

Clinical Lead - Health Equity

Education and training
Invitation for 7th NW London Polypharmacy Community of Practice

The NW London Polypharmacy Community of Practice (CoP) is looking to expand the reach and diversity of its members. Problematic polypharmacy attributes costs to the healthcare system as well as diminishes care for the patient, most of this is preventable. 

Time commitment and logistics 

To join the CoP, you need to be able to commit one hour once a quarter, to join a virtual meet.  

Our seventh meeting will be on Thursday 26th September 2024 from 1 – 2pm, I have attached a registration link here.  

Please feel free to share this invite with interested colleagues.

For further information and/or to get involved with the ICHP Polypharmacy Programme please contact

catherine.caldwell@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
Polypharmacy Action Learning Set Foundation Course

ICHP are pleased to announce the second cohort of the Polypharmacy Action Learning Set Foundation (ALSF). This is a pilot educational opportunity for primary care clinicians not yet eligible for the Polypharmacy ALS.

The eligibility criteria is listed below.

Pharmacists: 2 years' experience or less in primary care or less than 12 months as a prescriber (not yet eligible for the Polypharmacy Action Learning Set 3-day programme)

Pharmacy technicians: Band 5 and above, having completed or undertaking the PCPEP programme with at least 2 years' primary care experience.

The course content has been developed and will be delivered by Health Innovation Wessex. Cohort Two is set to run on the 24 September and 8  October from 9.30am - 12pm on both days.

ICHP have three spaces for this cohort, delegates must commit to both sessions.

If you would like to attend this session, please email catherine.caldwell@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com stating in no more than 100 words, why you are interested in attending.