Primary care bulletin - 13 August 2025

UK Health Security Agency Vaccine Update

The latest issue has been published. it contains important information and latest updates on vaccination programmes that you should be aware of as a provider of immunisation services.

Seasonal flu programme 2025 to 2026

The healthcare professional information document has been updated and is published.

So all of the key training materials for flu are all to hand, please also see the links to the e-learning and the national flu immunisation programme for 2025 to 2026 slideset (note that ‘the national flu immunisation programme for 2025 to 2026 slide set appears at the top of the 2025 to 2026 annual flu collection and is available to download).

Also attached is a slide set with information regarding flu publications which are live and available to order for the upcoming flu season. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be publishing the Vaccine Update flu special in the coming weeks as well as updating and recirculating this slide set as new resources become available. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for everyone to find and order paper copies of all the resources over the coming weeks.

Please contact england.londonimms@nhs.net with any queries.

National HPV vaccination and immunisation catch-up campaign

Thank you for your participation in this year’s national HPV vaccination catch up campaign. As you are aware, London has some of the lowest uptake of HPV across England and we are grateful for your efforts improving coverage and protecting against HPV infections and related cancers. Following the letter you received, we understand that further clarification and operational guidance has been requested by practice colleagues.

Please find additional information and resources to support your delivery. A toolkit is also attached for your reference.

Meningococcal B: vaccine information

Following queries regarding the short intervals between the first and second dose of MenB vaccine in the programme for infants, please see information below:

UKHSA has identified that their guidance doesn’t specify what to do if the second dose is given less than 4 weeks after the first dose.

Please see the wording below which will soon be added to the MenB information for healthcare professionals document to clarify.

What to do if the second dose of MenB vaccine is given less than 4 weeks after the first dose

Providing there is a minimum interval of 3 weeks (21 days) between the two doses of MenB vaccine, the second dose does not need to be repeated.

If the second dose is administered at a shorter interval than 3 weeks, it should be discounted, and an additional dose should be administered at least 4 weeks after the inadvertent dose was given (it may be given at the routine 3rd immunisation visit at 16 weeks of age).

As MenB vaccine was originally trialed and licensed as a 3-dose schedule given at least one month apart in infancy, an additional dose is acceptable and would not be expected to produce side effects beyond what may be seen following the first or second dose.

This information is intended to be used in exceptional circumstances, such as an inadvertent administration error. Deviation from the routine schedule should not be encouraged

Please contact england.londonimms@nhs.net with any queries.

WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund - two days left to apply

We're inviting expressions of interest from five PCNs for the £20k WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, per PCN. Many practices find that specialist employment support helps reduce recurring appointment pressures for a fit note, while improving patient outcomes.

This is a significant DWP investment (£100,000) in NHS North West London's approach to integrating health and employment support. The more PCNs we can engage, the stronger our evidence base for future scaling and the greater our impact on health inequalities.

The expression of interest form is attached. Contact for queries email Ann Waugh or call 07957 771 335.

Smartcard software and update

Some users across north west London may encounter an error message when using their smart card. This issue is related to the Identity Agent and Credential Manager software (also known as The Smartcard Software), and not the smart card itself.

Learn how to identify the issue and resolve it.

New Assessment Tool for Modern General Practice and updated care navigation and triage guidance

This has been published alongside an updated 'how to' guide covering care navigation and triage and digital workflow, both are available on the NHS England website. The assessment tool is a diagnostic tool, developed and tested with 540 practices across the country. It supports practices to:

review their care navigation and clinical triage process, and digital workflow
to identify what is working well and to identify and prioritise areas for improvement.

The guide is designed to support practice improvement teams who want to focus on a specific area or review their process from end-to-end.

Please share these resources with practices in your area and encourage them to use them. If you have any questions send these to the appropriate team.

Updates to General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlements and Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service

The amended General Medical Services (GME) Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE) increases Global Sum payments (backdated to 1 April 2025) implementing the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration recommendations in full.

The increase to practice funding enables the four per cent pay uplift with backdated payments to be passed on to salaried and contractor GPs and pay uplifts for other practice staff. NHS England expects general practice contractors to implement pay rises to other practice staff in line with the uplift in funding they are receiving.

New SFE and Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) provisions allow reimbursements for GPs absent on neonatal care leave, a 3.6 per cent pay uplift to Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff (backdated to 1 April 2025) and reimbursement for absent ARRS GPs.

Further information on the financial implications and actions for ICBs is available, including an updated practice and PCN income ready reckoner that now takes into account national uplifts to global sum, practice reimbursements, Network DES payments and ARRS reimbursements.

Challenges and Barriers in Supporting Clinical Research survey

A PHD student who approached us is researching GP’s attitudes towards research and how this differs across regions. Please consider taking a few moments to complete their survey.

Education and training