4 June 2025
Bulletin
DSPT submission; Information on vaccination sign-up; Cancer updates; Education and training; and more.

Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin

Key points this week include:
  • Data Security and Protection Toolkit submission 2025 – deadline 30 June 2025 
  • UK Health Security Agency vaccine update
  • RM Partners cancer updates
  • sign-up process launched for autumn/winter 2025-26 COVID-19 and flu vaccination services
  • taking laptops and Surface tablets outside of the UK
  • are you (or someone you line manage) going on maternity leave or take long-term leave? Let the ICT Team and HR know
  • findings from HiQuality (health inequality) study
  • GP direct access to computed Tomography of kidneys, ureters, and bladder and updated ultrasound guidance 
  • board oversight and staffing of NHS clinical trials letter.
Webinars and training, including:
  • primary care systems and other GP training
  • arrhythmia and heart failure: What GPs want to know – a consultant-led session
  • RM Partners' Primary Care Cancer Conference
  • evaluation of the Healthy Weight Coaches training programme.

If you have any submissions for this bulletin please email them to the communications inbox - nhsnwl.communications.nwl@nhs.net. View previous editions.
Data Security and Protection toolkit submission 2025 – deadline 30 June 2025 

All health and social care organisations that process and store patient identifiable or health information are mandated by NHS England to submit Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) assessment annually.

The DSPT is designed to help organisations measure their compliance with data security and protection standards, assess an organisation's ability to safely and securely handle patient data and protect against data breaches and cyberattacks. Organisations with access to NHS patient data must therefore review and submit their annual assessment each year before the deadline. The DSPT also provides organisations with a means of reporting security incidents and data breaches. More information about DSPT can be found by visiting their website.

Find out more.
UK Health Security Agency vaccine update

The latest edition has been published. It includes information on the changes to the routine childhood vaccination programmes and vaccine supply, amongst other areas.
RM Partners cancer updates

The Cancer GP bulletin contains information about the Primary Care Conference in September, as well as an update on Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) in the lower gastrointestinal pathway.

The FIT compliance – 2024/25 position document has also been published.
Sign-up process launched for autumn/winter 2025-26 COVID-19 and flu vaccination services

Providers wishing to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination service from their healthcare premises from 1 October 2025 are now invited to sign-up through the NHSBSA webpage by 16 June 2025. Any provider that wants to participate in the programme must read the guidance outlining the process.
 
Please note: Providers that already hold contracts that end on 31 March 2026 do not need to participate in this process.

Documents published on the NHSBSA website include:
  • COVID-19 vaccination enhanced service specification for general practice
  • guidance on the COVID-19 vaccination service site sign-up process
  • seasonal influenza letter (service specifications to be published shortly).
Taking laptops and Surface tablets outside of the UK

Please note that due to raised security risk, you must obtain approval from the ICT Security and Information Governance Teams, in addition to your management, before taking your NHS North West London issued device outside of the UK.

All issued laptops and surface tablets are monitored and tracked by the ICT department for information governance and cyber security purposes. Any device identified as connecting from outside the UK without approval will be disabled.

The NHS North West London ICT Information Security Working from Abroad Procedure is available on the self-service portal.

Alternatively, please contact the ICT Service Desk at nhsnwl.servicedesk@nhs.net.
Are you (or someone you line manage) going on maternity leave or take long-term leave? Let the ICT Team and HR know

It is both your responsibility and that of your manager to inform the ICT department and your HR department if you're planning to go on maternity leave or take long-term leave. 

Doing so ensures that we can appropriately place your account within our hold unit and maintain proper system records. If not, this can result in your account being permanently deleted without any possibility of recovery.

Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Should you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the ICT support team.
Findings from HiQuality (health inequality) study

NHS England London, UK Health Security Agency London, the NHS Legacy and Health Equity Partnership, as well as Imperial College London collaborated to develop the HiQuality study. This regional study explored the different ways general practices engage with communities to tackle health inequalities. Insights and findings have been published.
GP direct access to computed tomography of kidneys, ureters, and bladder and updated ultrasound guidance 

As part of improving and harmonising GP direct access to diagnostic imaging in north west London, access to low dose unenhanced computed tomography of kidneys, ureters, and bladder to manage renal stone disease is now available to all GPs. The new London pathway was created with colleagues from primary care and other teams.

Download the pathway and find out about its development.
Board oversight and staffing of NHS clinical trials letter

Please refer to the letter from NHS England.

Education and training
Primary care systems and other GP training

Primary care systems training sessions, as well as NHS app and transgender sessions, have been organised over the coming months. The documents include booking details.
RM Partners' Primary Care Cancer Conference

Primary care clinical colleagues are invited to attend a conference at Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge football stadium, in Fulham, on Thursday 18 September 2025.

The will focus on improving early cancer diagnosis, as well as the role of prevention in reducing cancer care.

Learn more about the day event and book your place.
Evaluation of the Healthy Weight Coaches training programme 

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has funded a collaboration of Universities led by the University of Oxford to understand and evaluate the Healthy Weight Coaches Training programme. This research focuses on the implementation, patient experiences and components the makeup effective conversations about healthy weight.

The aim of the Healthy Weight Coaches training programme is to train staff working in primary care networks such as link workers, practice nurses, pharmacy staff, to support people living with obesity to make positive changes to their health. The Healthy Weight Coaches are also trained to signpost or  refer people to weight management services.

The evaluation team are currently recruiting participants (one representative from each practice) for an online survey that explores the uptake, implementation and delivery of the Healthy Weight Coaches role. Individuals who are either a healthy weight coach themselves, or have knowledge about how Healthy Weight Coaches role works within their practice are eligible. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Participation will remain confidential at all times, and participants retain the right to withdraw from the survey at any point.

As a thank you for taking part, all participants will be offered a £10 Amazon voucher. If you have any questions about the survey or the overall research, please email the Healthy Weight Coaches study team. 

Sign up by completing the form.
Arrhythmia and heart failure: What GPs want to know 

Consider joining a practical, consultant-led day designed to build your confidence in managing heart failure and arrhythmias in primary care.

The event takes place on Thursday 31 July 2025, 9am - 4.30pm. Please note this is an in-person event at Broadway House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NQ

Find more about the focus of the day and book now.