Please note the deadline for submissions is 3pm each Monday.
MMR vaccinations for practice staff
Due to the recent measles outbreaks, GP practices are permitted to administer MMR vaccines to their eligible staff who are registered with another practice under immediately necessary treatment. This is a time limited arrangement from 1 August 2025 until 31 March 2026. Completing doses must be administered in accordance with the recommended intervals in the Green Book and by 31 March 2026.
An item of service fee cannot be claimed for MMR vaccines administered to staff registered with another practice. However, indemnity cover will be provided through the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice (CNSGP) and nationally supplied MMR stock can be used. Staff must be strongly encouraged to inform their registered practice that they have received an MMR vaccine, requesting it be included in their medical record. NHS Resolution will shortly update its website here to confirm these temporary arrangements.
A letter has now been published outlining upcoming changes to the Shingles vaccination programme from 1 September 2025, to include all those who are severely immunosuppressed (SIS) and aged 18 - 49 years. Previously only those aged over 50 years and classed as SIS were eligible for vaccination.
Statement of amendment to the annual flu letter for 2025 to 2026
The annual flu letter has been updated to reflect the national pilot that is planned for community pharmacies to provide flu vaccines to 2-3 year olds.
NHS England has already commissioned community pharmacies to provide seasonal influenza vaccinations to children aged 2 and 3 years for the 2025/26 season and has published the advanced service specifications for adults and children.
The service will be delivered from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026.
This is intended to supplement the GP offer. This will be for one year initially pending the outcomes of an evaluation.
The latest Cancer GP Bulletin focuses on maximising early cancer diagnosis, cancer screening and personalised care.
Londonwide Local Medical Committees – constituent survey
The Londonwide London Medical Committee have instigated an organisational stocktake. The Committee is seeking feedback from you and your practice teams to better understand your needs and priorities for their services going forwards.
All responses will be anonymous unless you choose to actively identify yourself within your free text response(s). Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this survey.
New model of care for adult community specialist palliative care approved
The NHS North West London Board has approved a new, standardised model for adult community specialist palliative care (CSPC) across all eight boroughs. The new model, developed through extensive engagement and consultation, will improve equity, access and consistency.
The Board also confirmed the formal closure of the Pembridge inpatient unit, which has not been operational since 2018. Other Pembridge services – including community specialist palliative care, day hospice and outpatient support – will continue..
MAAR charts for end of life care/last phase of life
The regional MAAR task and finish group met again last week and focused on finding a solution to the authorisation and administration of end-of-life drugs to ensure patients get the care they need at that difficult time in their lives but also understanding the pressures on GPs working within the present system.
The group has members who can help with the solution on a practical level and includes GPs, community nursing, pharmacists, digital colleagues and NHS England directors.
The group was clear that the solution needed to be safe without any transcribing of drugs and to cover the legalities of authorisation and separately administration of these drugs.
They are looking for an interim solution while a robust digital process is developed.
The UK National Screening Committee has recommended that women and people with a cervix who never or rarely attend their routine cervical screening appointments can be offered a HPV self-sampling test option. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme will now accelerate its plans to roll out this option from early 2026. A Q&A document has been prepared to help answer any questions, such as when the kits will be become available.
Urgent upgrade requirement – medical devices
The transition to Windows 11 is mandatory to maintain the security, compliance and operational continuity required within the NHS. The managed program to upgrade all devices within primary care began on 1 July 2025 to meet the deadline of 14 October 2025 to reduce risk; the risk of not doing so would result in delays and disruption to patient care and presents a clinical safety risk, so swift action is required.
NHS North West London IT has discovered that some medical device solutions are not fully compliant with Windows 11. These include Welch Allyn and Seca Cardio 150 devices and software.
The selection and support of these solutions was agreed to be the full responsibility of NHS North West London PCNs as per the MOU dated October 2022 and the risks related to running incompatible systems on Windows 11 has been accepted and are owned by GP practices.
National Patient Safety Alert issued due to TB medication supply issues
Due to a shortage of tuberculosis medicines, a National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA) was issued on 29 July 2025. There are shortages across a number of products, primarily due to manufacturing and supply chain reasons.
As per the National Patient Safety Alert, healthcare staff should undertake the listed actions to help mitigate the impact on patients. NHS England and Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialists will be co-ordinating mutual aid between Trusts. Prescribers should be amending prescriptions when the usual or preferred treatment is unavailable and only prescribe a maximum of one month’s supply of oral medicines.
St Christopher’s Hospice's learning disabilities in palliative care conference
The hospice's Advancing Palliative Care for Individuals with Learning Disabilities conference will take place on Friday 10 October 2025, 9.30 - 4.30pm. There is an option to join online or in-person.
The conference will cover:
latest research updates on palliative care for people with learning disabilities
primary Care Support; a reflection on health inequalities
recognising risk of dying in people with a learning disability
advancing equal access to palliative care
empowering choice and control for future planning
LeDeR - Learning from lives and deaths of people with a learning disabilities and autism.
Following the recent work to summarise demonstrator system activity, we are pleased to invite you to three webinars this summer. Each webinar provides an opportunity to explore an effective local approach that has supported improved vaccine uptake.
