Primary care bulletin - 9 October 2024 |
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Bulletin:
Non-Site Specific Rapid Diagnostic Centre update; Pride in practice patient service; changes to the "allowed list"; and more |
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Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin
Key points this week include:
- Non-Site Specific Rapid Diagnostic Centre (NSS RDC): increased capacity for referrals
- Pride in practice patient survey
- Changes to the “allowed list”
- NW London post-birth contraception service update
- World Menopause Day - support for staff
- Help us share key health messages this winter
- Viral shedding and administration of childhood flu vaccines
- RSV vaccination ordering – information for providers on choosing the correct product line
- Coming soon: New integrated healthy lifestyles service in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea
- Imperial Pain Management department - Directory of Service (DOS) updates
Webinars and training, including:
- Webinars discussing the challenges in health and social care
- GP 6-8 week maternal postnatal consultation webinar – ‘what good looks like’
- Calling H&F Practice Pharmacists and PCN staff
- ICHP Masterclass - Safe Prescribing in Frailty: Tackling Overuse & Anticholinergic Risks
- Final dates released for polypharmacy action learning set workshops
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
To view any previous editions click here |
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Non-Site Specific Rapid Diagnostic Centre (NSS RDC): increased capacity for referrals
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Non-Site-Specific Rapid Diagnostic Centre is expanding and has increased capacity for referrals.
Clinics are held at both St Mary’s and Charing Cross hospitals.
Read the attached to find out more.
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Pride in practice patient survey
LGBT Foundation have recently released their 2024 pride in practice patient survey. This survey aims to capture data on patient experiences in primary care, be that at GP practices, dental practices, pharmacies or optometry services.
Please share this survey with your colleagues or if possible, with patients/ service users who may wish to share their primary care experiences.
The responses to this survey will be used to support the LGBT Foundation in improving awareness of the experiences LGBTQ+ patients have when using primary care services. The data that is collected may then be used to:
- Increase awareness of t LGBTQ+ patient experiences in primary care services
- Inform and improve the training provided by LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Practice team to primary care services
- Feature in our written reports that promote the ongoing need to improve service provision for LGBTQ+ patients in primary care.
Any data shared by the LGBT Foundation for these purposes will be anonymised.
The survey can be found here.
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Changes to the “allowed list”
We have made some updates to the “allowed list” which include some new Mental Health Integrated units.
Please see attached user guide on how to import this in to your SystmOne unit, including the most up to date list.
No action is needed for practices that use EMIS.
Any queries or concerns please contact the Primary Care Systems Team via the Servicedesk on nhsnwl.servicedesk@nhs.net or via the Self Service portal.
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NW London post-birth contraception service update
The NW London post-birth contraception service is still operating in NW London and we continue to offer LARC and the POP as part of maternity care, to everyone birthing in NW London.
Intra-uterine contraception (IUC) is being offered at elective caesarean section (ELCS) and our guidelines on management of post-placental IUC (PPIUC), along with patient information resources, are available on the ICB website.
Your actions:
Our recommendation is for those with PPIUC to have their device checked by their local sexual health service (SRH) at 6weeks post-birth. Long threads are to be expected, as threads are not trimmed when fitted at ELCS. The expulsion rate is reported to be slightly higher (10-30%) for devices fitted post-birth. Local data suggests expulsion/malposition requiring replacement could be closer to 25-48% (95%CI) so a device check with an experienced practitioner is essential. We recommend the use of USS to confirm placement wherever possible. If a patient presents to your practice, they can be redirected to SRH for their coil check. If you feel confident to do the check yourself, please refer to the flow chart in our guideline for advice on management.
If you do check any PPIUC devices, we would be glad to hear of the outcomes. Please contact us at Imperial.postbirthcontraception@nhs.net.
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World Menopause Day - support for staff
18 October marks World Menopause Day. Menopause can have a huge impact on women’s wellbeing with 3 in 4 women experiencing symptoms and 70% of women experiencing stress related to this transition.
The NICE guidelines now recommend CBT as a form of support for women who may be experiencing symptoms of low mood, anxiety, hot flushes and sleep problems due to menopause. For more information on menopause you can visit our website. You can also make a self-referral to the Keeping Well team to access CBT support through our talking therapies teams.
We are here to support local staff. Get in touch with us by:
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Help us share key health messages this winter
NHS North West London’s winter campaign is underway, sharing key messages on vaccinations, service access (right care, right place) and keeping well.
To help deliver this information, the communications team is looking to produce video and audio content with clinical staff - both in English and other widely spoken languages. This can be in different forms depending on your capacity and what you are comfortable with, whether that is:
- A scripted voice note
- A video you record on your phone
- A video arranged and filmed by the communications team in your work setting
- Support proof reading translated content.
We appreciate that staff are extremely busy but we hope by sharing these messages in a range of formats, from trusted voices, we can make a difference. If you would like to find out more or express your interest, please email Emelia Goodall, communications manager, at Emelia.goodall@nhs.net.
As a reminder, key winter resources can be found on this page.
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Viral shedding and administration of childhood flu vaccines
UKHSA is aware that some parents are contacting schools to withdraw their child from school following flu vaccination sessions because of concerns about viral shedding from the nasal spray vaccine.The following information has been developed by UKHSA to provide some standard responses for SAIS teams to use on queries related to the vaccine.
Information for head teachers can also be found in the leaflets below which can be either downloaded or ordered for free:
Flu vaccination 2024 to 2025: Briefing for primary schools
and
Adolescent vaccination programme: Briefing for secondary schools
Further information for healthcare professionals on viral shedding can be found in guidance on administering flu vaccines.
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RSV vaccination ordering – information for providers on choosing the correct product line
The same RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, is used for both the older adult and the maternal RSV vaccination programmes; however, vaccine supply for each programme is managed separately by UKHSA for England and the UK. It is therefore important that when providers are ordering Abrysvo® vaccine, orders should be placed for the ImmForm product that is specific to each RSV protection programme.
Find out more.
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Coming soon: New integrated healthy lifestyles service in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea
The smoking cessation and cardiovascular prevention service in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea is changing.
The service which is currently provided by Thrive Tribe, One You Westminster and One You Kensington and Chelsea will be delivered by Reed in Partnership from early December 2024.
The service will continue to offer smoking cessation and cardiovascular prevention services, with a renewed focus on addressing health inequalities. Working closely with VCS organisations, partners and residents, and building on the great work done by Thrive Tribe, support will be targeted towards those who need it most including global majority communities, people with a disability and those with mental health issues.
Watch this space for further information, including on service referrals and payment information.
For any queries, please contact publichealthdepartment@westminster.gov.uk
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Imperial Pain Management Department - Directory of Service (DOS) updates
The Pain Management Department has updated their Directory of Service (DOS) from ‘Triage, Advice and Guidance’ to ‘Advice Only’. This change will help the service streamline suitable patients and provide clear guidance to GPs on where best to refer.
In one round of triaging, the Pain Management Team found 160 of 200 patients referred to the service would be better suited to treatment in the community or provided by another service for a different intervention. Patients will benefit by being offered optimal care tailored to their particular condition. This will increase the efficiency of the care offered by appropriately reducing their chronic pain in a timely manner.
Please note, where necessary, the advice can be converted to an outpatient referral. The aim is for GPs to authorise the service to progress to a referral should the patient be suitable for the clinic. To support this, the ‘referrer alert’ section on the DOS will read as follows:
“Please ensure to select the authorisation to convert to a referral, otherwise there will be a delay with us having to send back to you for a new request.”
Email any questions to imperial.painclinic@nhs.net.
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Webinar: GP 6-8 week maternal postnatal consultation – ‘what good looks like’
NHS England’s Maternity and Neonatal Programme will be hosting a webinar for GPs to share best practice advice on delivering the 6–8-week maternal postnatal consultation, in line with the NHSE guidance published in December 2023.
Join Dr Paula Cowan (National Primary Care Medical Directorate Lead for Women’s Health) and Emma Crookes (National Service User Voice Representative) and hear from a range of national experts and GPs about the 4 key areas of the guidance: maternal mental health, perinatal pelvic health, physical health and long term conditions, and health promotion. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to raise questions in a monitored Q&A chat box.
This webinar is free to attend and intended as an interactive learning opportunity to contribute to improvements in women’s’ experiences of postnatal care. It will take place on Tuesday 8 October, 7pm -8.30pm.
Please register here using an @nhs or @doctors email address.
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Webinars discussing the challenges in health and social care
Turning Point are hosting a series of webinars looking at some of the major challenges facing the health and social care sector .
The series will feature leading thinkers including Professor Sir Michael Marmot, former Labour Health Secretary Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt and broadcaster and academic Tom Shakespeare.
The next webinar takes place 1.30 - 2.30pm on 14 October. It is entitled "Can (and should) charities and social enterprises play a bigger role in the delivery of public services?" Register here.
Further webinars are taking place later in the month.
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Calling Hammersmith and Fulham practice pharmacists and PCN staff
Managing chronic pain, particularly when discussing deprescribing, can be complex. Connect Health (NW London MSK Partnership provider) are offering an opportunity to enhance your approach with evidence-based strategies designed to empower your patients in managing their pain more effectively.
This tailored program for Practice Pharmacists and PCN staff will enable you to:
- Adopt a coaching mindset to support chronic pain management
- Communicate the latest insights on chronic pain with confidence
- Promote non-pharmacological alternatives to improve patient outcome
- Refine your consultation skills to foster patient engagement and support deprescribing.
The course consists of two interactive sessions, available in October or December, please click here to register your interest.
Feel free to circulate this invite to other Hammersmith and Fulham practice pharmacists and PCN staff who may be interested.
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ICHP Masterclass - Safe prescribing in frailty: Tackling overuse and anticholinergic risks
This takes place on Wednesday 9 October 2024 with Dr Graham Stretch, PCPA President, Partner Argyle GP, Lead Pharmacist Ealing Community Partners.
Dr Graham Stretch and Imperial College Health Partners would like to invite you to attend our upcoming Safe Prescribing in Frailty: Tackling Overuse & Anticholinergic Risks webinar at 12 - 2pm on Wednesday 9 October 2024. In this session we will examine medicines overuse in patients living with frailty with particular reference to the dangers of anti-cholinergic medicines and cognitive impairment. We will use case-based discussions to highlight tools, resources and strategies to reduce risk of medication related harms and overprescribing in frailty
Please click here to register for the session.
Feel free to circulate this invite to other colleagues who may be interested.
For further information and/or to get involved with the ICHP Polypharmacy Programme please contact catherine.caldwell@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
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Final dates released for polypharmacy action learning set workshops
Cohort twenty – 16 October, 6 and 20 November 2024
Cohort twenty-one - 13 and 27 November and 11 December 2024
Cohort twenty-two - 22 January, 5 and 26 February June 2025
The National Polypharmacy Programme exclusively invites our NWL prescribers to join the Action Learning Set (ALS). The programme aims to build GP and prescribing health care professionals’ confidence in, and understanding of, the complex issue surrounding and stopping inappropriate medicines safely. Delegates need to attend all three sessions. The ALS with also help PCNs deliver the medicines optimisation elements of the new Directed Enhanced Services contract and contributes to the QoF.
To learn more about the Polypharmacy ALS please click here, to register for either:
Cohort 20 please click here
Cohort 21 please click here
Cohort 22 please click here
Feel free to circulate this invite to other colleagues who may be interested.
For further information and/or to get involved with the ICHP Polypharmacy Programme please contact
catherine.caldwell@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
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