Bulletin:
Action to take on mpox; UKHSA update on Burkholderia Stabilis contamination; Primary care incident reporting survey; and more |
|
|
|
Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin
Key points this week include:
- Actions to take following the emergence of clade 1b mpox cases in the UK
- UKHSA update on Burkholderia Stabilis contamination in non-sterile ultrasound gel
- Direct contact by digital weight management provider Oviva to general practices
- Primary care incident reporting survey
- NHS online patient ‘Register with a GP Surgery’ service
- World Diabetes Day
- Update on Any Qualified Provider (AQP) audiology service
- C the Signs update
- Medicines safety newsletter
- Counter fraud notice
- Brent and Harrow perinatal mental health service: New resources for GP practices
- Resources to support GPs with homeless people
- Movember and International Men's Day - Keeping Well (staff wellbeing)
- Wound care educational resources for community and primary care nurses
- Guidance on Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC)
- About Workwell
Webinars and training, including:
- NHS NW London IPC conference for adult social care
- Upcoming MECC webinar on tackling healthcare Inequalities
- REGO - advice and guidance overview/Q&A sessions
- ICHP CVD Education Series – heart failure in primary care
- Chronic pain in primary care and opioid harm reduction programme MDT for Brent, Harrow and Hammersmith and Fulham patients
- ICHP polypharmacy masterclass - Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS)
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 |
|
|
Actions to take following the emergence of clade 1b mpox cases in the UK
In the light of the recent confirmed case of clade 1b mpox and associated contacts in the UK, NHS England have issued the attached a letter and annex B stock information.
There are several actions that ICBs are being asked to undertake and these will be actioned shortly.
Additional information is likely to be issued over the coming days together with a webinar and as soon as we received this information we will of course share it with you.
As a reminder, you can find mpox pathway action cards on this webpage.
|
UKHSA update on Burkholderia Stabilis contamination in non-sterile ultrasound gel
Please see the updated 2024/050 UKHSA Health Protection briefing note attached regarding Burkholderia Stabilis contamination in non-sterile ultrasound gel, referencing an updated Field Safety Notice (FSN).
|
|
Direct contact by digital weight management provider Oviva to general practices
NHS North West London has been made aware of recent direct contact by digital weight management provider Oviva to general practices, offering access to Tier 3 weight management services under Right to Choose. NHS North West London has not commissioned Oviva to provide weight management services.
We have no visibility on the expectations of general practice for monitoring patients under this service.
NHS North West London is in discussion with NHS England to gain clarification on commissioning and financial questions that arise from this to ensure that any information being shared is accurate. We are going to conduct a due diligence process for the Oviva service to ensure it meets the requirements of NHS North West London and our patients.
We will publish a further update as soon as this process is complete.
|
Primary care incident reporting survey
NHS England have asked us to share this survey to help understand primary care needs for incident recording, such as what system people use and what you think should be recorded nationally.
Please complete and share this survey.
|
NHS online patient ‘Register with a GP Surgery’ service
Over 88% of practices in north west London are already using the free NHS England ‘Register with a GP Surgery’ (RGS) service to allow patients to register with their practice online. The GP Contract 2024/2025 requires practices to solely use this product for registrations in both online and paper versions by 31 October 2024.
It only takes minutes to set up and the ‘Register with a GP Surgery’ service is linked to the ‘Find a GP’ webpage, NHS App and can be linked to your practice website. The service helps reduce the administrative burden for your practice as well as making GP registration easier for patients.
As the 31 October 2024 deadline has passed, please activate the service for your practice as soon as possible by either completing this form or via ‘NHS Profile Manager’ which can be instant.
Please see the attached slides for more guidance (including setup instructions from slide 86 onwards) and here is a link to a recording of a recent NW London Primary Care webinar covering it.
For more information, you can also visit the NHS England/Digital page.
|
World Diabetes Day
This awareness day is marked on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin in 1921. Diabetes and wellbeing is the theme chosen by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for WDD 2024-26.
With appropriate access to diabetes care and support for their wellbeing, everyone with diabetes has the chance to live well.
In north west London our patients can access a wide range of care and support including the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP) which supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.
It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access. See guidance on how to refer here as well as FAQs issued by NHS England.
|
Update on Any Qualified Provider (AQP) audiology service
Please find communications in relation to the community AQP audiology service and ensuring via eRS that these commissioned service providers (Specsavers, Inhealth or Audiological Science) are utilised for all eligible non-complex adult audiology referrals
AQP Community Audiology – Non-complex Hearing Loss Services for Adults
GP referral guidance
Adult hearing loss - AQP NW NHS London referral form
Patient information
|
C the Signs update
We’re pleased to inform you that C the Signs has been recommissioned by NHS NW London to support cancer detection for the next four years.
You may have already received a letter from Dr. Lucy Hollingsworth, NW London Primary Care Cancer Lead, confirming that C the Signs is now the preferred platform for urgent suspected cancer referrals and cancer safety netting in north west London. You can view the full letter here.
Find out more about C the Signs and the features it offers.
|
Medicines safety newsletter
The attached newsletter distributed by NHS England London contains updates on important medicines safety improvement programme priorities, spotlights on medication safety roles, and updates on other important alerts.
|
Counter fraud notice
Our counter fraud provider has alerted us to a new company targeting GP practices by sending fraudulent invoices. This follows a number of frauds against GP practices from various fake company names issuing fraudulent invoices.
No invoices for consumables (printer toner etc) received from GO GREEN OFFICE SUPPLIES should be paid. The genuine company have confirmed they do not provide these items, and their details are being used fraudulently.
Actions
- Flag any invoices received from GO GREEN OFFICE SUPPLIES
- Review any invoices thoroughly to ensure the goods were ordered, and received, prior to making payment
- Confirm the details of any bank transfer using the banking Confirmation of Payee (COP) system which is available on most banking apps
- Do not make any payments to 04-00-03 23564075
- Refer any false invoices received to the Counter Fraud Team - contact Nick.Jones@rsmuk.com.
|
Brent and Harrow perinatal mental health service: New resources for GP practices
Our Perinatal Mental Health Service has developed new digital resources to raise awareness about the support available for women/birthing people in Brent and Harrow. The resources share helpful messages on how to get in touch with our team as well as self-referral information to make it easy for patients to access our service.
The resources can be used in a display you may have on screens in your waiting room. They can also be used on your screensavers, or in presentations and newsletters.
The following materials are available for you to download and use:
Content for GP practice waiting room screens (opens as jpeg)
Content for GP practice waiting room screens (opens as PDF)
Content for GP practice screensavers or newsletters (opens as jpeg)
Content for GP practice screensavers or newsletters (opens as PDF)
If you have any questions, please contact: cnw-tr.brentharrowperinatal@nhs.net
|
Resources to support GPs with homeless people
We have developed a training resource specifically designed for GP practice staff to support awareness of homelessness and GP registration as part of improving access to General Practice.
This resource has been developed with key stakeholders, with appreciation for those who has been involved in its creation.
The programme is now live and can be accessed through the following links:
Programme link on Learning Hub
Programme page
Additionally, here is a link to coverage of Prince William’s work on homelessness which colleagues might find useful.
BBC News
Telegraph online (behind paywall)
Please feel free to share this information with your network.
|
Movember and International Men's Day - Keeping Well
19 November 2024 marks International Men's Day and Movember is held annually to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide.
International Men's Day aims to make a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys and promote a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity.
According to gender statistics released by NHS Digital in 2021, over 23 per cent of our NHS workforce are male or identify as male.
Statistics show that on average men’s life expectancy is lower than females, men go to the doctor less than women and are three times more likely to die from suicide.
Marcus, an NHS worker was struggling with feelings of low self-esteem. He had this to say about having contacted the Keeping Well service:
“The Keeping Well service listened to what I was struggling with when I first made contact. I have never done something like this before or ever even had a conversation about my feelings in this way. The service can really help people with what they are going through.” Read Marcus’ full story here.
We are here to support you. Get in touch with us by:
Telephone: 0300 123 1705
Email: keepingwell.nwl@nhs.net
Complete a self-referral form
|
Wound care educational resources for community and primary care nurses
These describe principals and standards for community and primary care nurses, mapped to level of practice. See the attached.
|
About Workwell
Do you have patients that are unemployed due to sickness or at risk of unemployment due to sickness?
Yes? Then they may be suitable for referral to “Workwell”.
Click here to find out more.
|
|
|
NHS NW London IPC conference for adult social care
Please find attached a flyer and programme for the NHS NW London IPC conference for adult social care being held at 2 - 4.15pm on Thursday 28 November 2024.
The flyer contains details on how to join the event.
If you have any queries, please email Georgina Terry of the NHS NW London IPC Team.
|
Upcoming MECC webinar on tackling healthcare inequalities
On 27 November 2024, NHS England will be hosting an informative and interactive session to raise awareness of Making Every Contact Count (MECC) and its vital role in addressing healthcare inequalities. This webinar will also mark the official launch of the MECC 'how to guide' for acute settings. This event is open to all NHS colleagues with an interest in MECC approaches to tackle health disparities.
The online event will take place at 10 - 11am on Wednesday 27 November 2024.
You can register for the event via this registration link.
|
REGO - advice and guidance overview/Q&A sessions
The 60 minute sessions will include:
- Accessing Rego - SystmOne / EMIS
- Complete & Send Referrals (reducing rejections and best practice)
- Referral Tracking
- Followed by Q&A Session.
Please secure your place by booking on to one of the sessions via the NW London Learning Hub.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Primary Care Systems Training Team via the IT Service Desk on 0203 350 4050 or email nhsnwl.servicedesk@nhs.net if you have any queries
We look forward to seeing you on one of these sessions.
|
Chronic pain in primary care and opioid harm reduction programme MDT for Brent, Harrow and Hammersmith and Fulham patients
On behalf of Dr Ian Bernstein (Responsible Officer and Musculoskeletal Physician Connect Health), we would like to invite you to the upcoming Chronic Pain in Primary Care & Opioid Harm Reduction Programme MDT meeting on 28 November 2024, 12 - 1.30pm. You are welcome to refer patients even if formal reviews have not yet begun or simply attend to listen to the discussions or theoretical cases presented by others.
Please click here to register for the session.
Feel free to circulate to other colleagues who may be interested.
We hope to have attendance from practice and PCN clinical pharmacists, social prescribing link workers, health coaches, care coordinators, GPs, the community MSK pain team, and Imperial College Health Partners. Please forward this invitation to your practice and PCN teams, as well as the invitees listed above, as we do not have their contact details. Even if you do not have a case to discuss, there is much to be learned from hearing how others are managing chronic pain. Feel free to join or leave the meeting as your schedule permits; we understand your time is valuable.
For further information and/or to get involved with the Chronic Pain in Primary Care & Opioid Harm Reduction Programme please contact catherine.caldwell@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
|
ICHP polypharmacy masterclass - Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS)
John Adams, Vittoria Romano and Imperial College Health Partners would like to invite you to attend our upcoming Polypharmacy Masterclass - Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) on Wednesday 27 November 2024, 12 - 2pm.
This session will focus on improving understanding and prescribing practices for ONS, with a special emphasis on the impact of polypharmacy and the importance of appropriate use for healthcare professionals across all settings—not just dietitians.
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
|
ICHP CVD Education Series – Heart failure in primary care
On behalf of Dr Carla Plymen (Heart Failure Lead, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust), we would like to invite you to the upcoming CVD webinar on “Heart Failure in Primary Care” on Tuesday 19 November 2024, 12 - 1pm.
In this interactive session, we will provide a comprehensive overview of heart failure, its importance in clinical practice. Review referrals pathways to north west London Heart Failure services and medications utilised. Additionally, we will introduce the Heart Failure Pages on the MyHealth LDN site, a valuable resource for both patients and healthcare professionals. You will have the opportunity to put forward any questions to the panel in a Q&A.
Please click here to register for the session.
Feel free to circulate to other colleagues who may be interested.
For further information and/or to get involved with the ICHP CVD education series please contact amar.singh@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
or catherine.caldwell@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
|
|
|
|
|
