Primary care bulletin - 15 November 2023 |
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Bulletin:
Social media policy; NW London cancer bulletin; termination of London eRedbook pilot; pain services will cease at Hendon Hospital and more
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Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin
Key points this week include:
- Social media policy
- NHS NW London cancer bulletin
- Termination of London eRedbook pilot
- Providing COVID & flu vaccinations to people with learning disabilities or a serious mental illness
- Action required: upcoming changes to cervical screening management system
- Pain services will cease at Hendon Hospital
- Medicines safety newsletter
- World antimicrobial resistance awareness week
- GP champions recruitment
- Training, webinars and more
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We are aware that many primary care staff and many of our patients are impacted and distressed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We know that General Practices will want to support practice staff through exceptionally difficult times and the ICB is doing the same for ICB staff. Below suggests some actions that practices can take to help with this support. We are also writing out to colleagues in other parts of the primary care system, including our dental, community pharmacy and optometry colleagues. We are aware that a number of people who are working in the NHS have commented on the situation on social media, as is their right as private citizens. We all have the right to freedom of speech and we recognise that emotions are running high, but we do need to guard against comments that may upset or intimidate patients or other staff from different communities or bring the NHS into disrepute. It would be helpful if General Practices were able to remind their staff of this. There is guidance available to help support the expectations of staff including clinicians. Helpful resources include and HCPC (health and care professionals council).We thought it might be helpful to also share with you the ICB social media policy, which has recently been reissued to ICB staff along with the offer of support for those who need it. If you do not already have a policy in place, we would strongly recommend that you adapt and adopt the ICB policy or something similar. We have also issued a public statement condemning racism and hate speech, which is published on our website as follows: “North West London is a rich and diverse area with a wide range of different cultures and communities, all of which contribute to making this a great place to live and work. We condemn in the strongest terms antisemitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of racism and hate speech. Such attitudes have no place in the NHS. “We are working with our staff and all our providers to ensure there is a zero tolerance approach to racism and hate speech across North West London.” All General Practices are encouraged to use the above ICB statement or something similar on their websites, if not already done so. |
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NHS NW London cancer bulletin
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This edition of the cancer bulletin includes:LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Learn more about the Be Unforgettable campaign SARCOMA SERVICES New Soft Tissue Sarcoma Hub and Spoke services in London EUROPAC: REGISTRY FOR FAMILIAL PANCREATIC CANCER AND HERIDITARY PANCREATITIS Supporting patients that may be at risk of developing pancreatic cancer GATEWAY C: COMMUNICATION ASSETS AND CAMPAIGNS CALENDAR - NOVEMBER Supporting key cancer awareness events: lung, pancreatic, mouth and gastric cancer. PRIMARY CARE CANCER EDUCATION Tell us how you would like to receive Cancer Education! Red Whale Cancer Education – still available! South East London Cancer Alliance (SELCA) education resource – Focus on Myeloma FREE Cancer Education and Training Programme. Accompanying documents: Spotlight doc NovemberHCP information sheetEUROPAC information sheet
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Termination of London eRedbook pilot
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We would like to inform you that eRedbook will no longer be available for babies living in London from 31st December 2023. Please see the attached letter which contains more information. The letter was cascaded to NHS Trusts earlier in October. Please cascade on to the relevant teams/ staff in your organisation. We would like to thank you for your support of eRedbook to date. |
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Providing COVID & flu vaccinations to people with learning disabilities or a serious mental illness
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The accelerated phase of Autumn / Winter campaign for COVID & Flu that prioritised care home residents concluded on 31st October but the programme continues for all other cohorts until Mid-December 2023. Data for the 2023 Autumn / Winter campaign suggests that key vulnerable groups such as those with learning disabilities (LD) and/or serious mental illness (SMIs) have significantly lower uptake levels when compared to other cohorts i.e. LD is currently at 16% and SMIs at 17% respectively. LD and SMI patients are some of our most vulnerable cohorts and without the offer of a COVID and flu vaccination at this time of year then many will remain unprotected and may be potentially exposed to both viruses this Winter exacerbating severity of illness. In order to provide maximum protection to this vulnerable population we would kindly ask that you undertake searches of your LD and SMI registers to identify these patients and then make contact providing information on how and where this group can get a vaccination Please click here to find your nearest vaccination site in North West London. To help in the promotion of vaccinations to LD patients NHSE have produced the following supporting documents: NHSE London prompts and resourcesChecklist posterA helpful LD toolkit is also available, download the toolkit here.If you need any more information on supporting this vulnerable group please email the NWL Immunisation Team at nhsnwl.immunisations@nhs.net Can we take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for all your continued efforts in helping deliver the vaccination programme in North West London. |
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Action required: upcoming changes to cervical screening management system
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NWL IT alongside NHS England are stepping up preparations for the switchover to the new NHS Cervical Screening Management System (CSMS) in Q4 2023/24.The CSMS will be replacing Open Exeter for all Cervical Screening related actions. With the new system, accuracy and security of patient information will be improved, making sure every person eligible for a screening appointment continues to be invited on time and followed up if required. The new CSMS will be much easier to navigate, freeing up more time for frontline staff. As Open Exeter will no longer be accessible after the transition to the new NHS CSMS, NWL IT alongside NWL Registration Authority are preparing systems ahead of the launch in Q4 2023-24, to enable a seamless switchover to the new CSMS. As part of this preparation process, we need each practice to fill out the attached spreadsheet with details of the staff that will need access. Please note that we only need the details of those that will be accessing the Cervical Screening Management System and not all smartcard users in the practice. If you have already done this, thank you. Please return your completed spreadsheet to the following email address: nhsnwl.registration.authority@nhs.net There will be training provided, nearer to the official launch in Q4 this year. However, NHS England are still developing these materials. As soon as they are available, we will communicate this to practices. We would encourage you to sign up to national updates on this programme, to supplement the comms from the local IT team, by following this link.If you have any questions, please do reach out via the details below: Tom Smith Digital Workflows Programme Lead (NWL IT) Tsmith8@nhs.net |
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Pain services will cease at Hendon Hospital
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From 1 December 2023, Hendon Hospital will cease accepting new referrals for Pain Services. The ERS (electronic Referral Service) will no longer be available for making referrals.
After this date, the hospital will no longer accept new referrals for Pain Services. All existing patients will continue to receive treatment until their discharge.
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Medicines safety newsletter
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World antimicrobial resistance awareness week
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World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) (18th- 24th November 2023)The 2023 theme, Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together, aims to improve awareness of global antibiotic resistance and encourage best practice among the general public, health care providers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. GPs and other healthcare professionals have been tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) over the last few years and are encouraged to continue with this work. In NW London, a key objective is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective guidance, communication, education and training. TARGET (which stands for Treat Antibiotics Responsibly, Guidance, Education and Tools) (link) is a useful toolkit designed to support primary care clinicians to champion and implement antimicrobial stewardship activities. The resources can also be used to support CPD and revalidation requirements. Examples of our commitment to our GP practices: ·Published NW London Guidelines for Antimicrobial Prescribing in General Practice (link) · NW London Antibiotic Prescribing resource tool incorporated into SystmOne and EMIS ·Three quality indicators incorporated into the NW London Medicines Management Enhanced Service 23-24:
- Reduction in the number of antibiotics prescribed in primary care per STAR PU
- Appropriate prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics in primary care
- Increase the proportion of amoxicillin 500mg capsules prescribed as 5-day course for Respiratory Tract Infections
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At Fast Track Cities London, we are currently recruiting London-based GPs to join our pan-London GP Champion Network. The position is paid and is 4 hours per week for 12 months and opened last week! The deadline for applications is 15th of November and you can find more information about the position and its aims on the website.Are you passionate about effecting change within primary care and your community? We are looking for GPs working in London to become Fast Track Cities HIV GP Champions for their area. Fast-Track Cities London is a partnership working to end new HIV infections, put a stop to HIV-related stigma and discrimination, stop preventable deaths and improve the health, quality of life and well-being of people living with HIV across the capital. Primary care plays a crucial part in the success of achieving these goals. The new HIV GP Champion role offers an opportunity to improve care for people living with HIV by removing the historic barriers between services and offering an integrated approach to long-term health across primary care, secondary care, Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations for people living with HIV. The aim is to work collaboratively between all care settings for the patient as a whole person, reducing obstacles to access care and improving patient outcomes. This approach is consistent with and supportive of London’s overall HIV response, the Evolving HIV Care Report, the BHIVA Standards of Care, and the Fuller Stocktake on integrated primary care. You can read the full role description on the website. |
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London safeguarding adults conference – Monday 20th November to Friday 24th November
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All staff are invited to the London Safeguarding Adults Conference organised by the London Safeguarding Adults Board, which takes place during National Adult Safeguarding Awareness Week. The series of events organised this year is an excellent opportunity for learning and professional development in the field of adult safeguarding. Please find the details below: Monday, 20 Nov, 12:00-13:30: What’s My Role in Safeguarding Adults? RegistrationTuesday, 21 Nov, 12:00-13:00: Organisations Working Together: Community Safety: RegistrationWednesday, 22 Nov, 10:00-13:00: Main London Safeguarding Adults Conference - Key Topics Include: RegistrationBuilding Safe Organisations and Cultures Making Safeguarding Personal Effective Co-production Insights from the London Safeguarding Voices Group Panel Discussion & Q&A Thursday, 23 Nov, 12:00-13:00: Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach to Safeguarding Adults: RegistrationFriday, 24 Nov, 12:00-13:00: Insights from Safeguarding Adults Reviews: RegistrationWe encourage you to mark these dates in your calendar and share this information across your professional networks. Your participation and promotion of this programme are crucial in maximising the impact of these learning opportunities. |
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Clinical examination skills training for community pharmacists
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Community pharmacists can now sign up for 1 or more Clinical Examination Skills modules including ENT, paediatrics, cardiology and dermatology.
New, fully funded, flexible training for community pharmacists to help expand your clinical skills and improve patient care. Designed to be flexible, the training programme can be tailored to individuals’ skills, experience and learning requirements.
With 1,000+ places for Clinical Examination Skills face-to-face sessions available. These optional, regional events will give community pharmacists the chance to practice new procedures and techniques in real-life scenarios. The course is designed to increase skills and confidence in wider clinical care covering areas such as history taking, clinical assessment and safety netting.
This training offers a step towards Independent Prescribing and an opportunity to gain new specialist skills to increase your NHS role or to expand and refresh your diagnostic and consultation skills if you’re already an IP.
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World AMR awareness week - webinars
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The Antimicrobial Prescribing and Medicines Optimisation (APMO) Team have collaborated with colleagues to bring you three webinars during World AMR Awareness Week, 2023. Monday 20 November (13:00 - 14:00) - Optimising duration of antibiotic use in primary care: Implementing changeThis PrescQIPP AMS Virtual Professional Group (VPG) webinar will focus on the NHS England AMR programme workstream that aims to optimise antibiotic duration in primary care and supports delivery of the NHS England medicines optimisation opportunity14: Reducing course length of antimicrobial prescribing. Click here for further information and to register. Tuesday 21 November (12:30 - 13:30) - Managing acute respiratory tract infections in children in primary care: an evidence updateJoin this interactive live webinar with leading academic primary care clinicians Professor Alastair Hay, a GP (since 1997) and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Bristol and Dr Oliver Van Hecke, an academic GP who completed his doctoral studies in 2018 at Oxford. To register for this event, please go to NHS Events/ Managing acute respiratory tract infections in children in primary care: an evidence updateWednesday 22 November (18:30 - 19:30) - Acne and COPD exacerbation: Reviewing patients on long term/repeated antibioticsThis webinar will look at ways your practice can review antimicrobial prescribing for patients who are on long-term or repeat antibiotics for acne and COPD exacerbations. Presenters from NHS England and pharmacy teams based in GP practice will showcase resources including those available through TARGET and the dashboards to support the antibiotic duration workstream. Click here to registerPlease share this information with colleagues who you think would like to attend. |
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AL amyloidosis - resources for healthcare professionals
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In collaboration with NHS experts, Myeloma UK has produced a free AL amyloidosis eLearning Module accessible on the NHS Learning Hub.
The 1-hour RCPath-accredited CPD course supports GPs and other healthcare professionals to recognise clinical presentations of AL amyloidosis, know the diagnostic investigations required and appreciate the treatment options available.
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ICHP polypharmacy masterclass - care homes
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Wednesday 22 November, 10.30am-12.30pm
Manisha Bhatt and Imperial College Health Partners would like to invite you to attend our upcoming “Polypharmacy Masterclass - Care Homes” webinar on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 from 10.30am-12.30pm. In this webinar we will highlight environmental and personal barriers when it comes to deprescribing in elderly patients, and how to address some of these. You will also hear some practical tips for reviewing medicines of elderly care home residents, as well as the importance of shared care decision making and collaborative MDT working.
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 or gill.francis@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com |
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Palliative care bites - frailty and end of life care
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Tuesday 21 November, 1pm-2pm
Guest Speaker: Kerry Lyons, Consultant Admiral Nurse for Frailty, Dementia UK
We are witnessing an increasing overlap between dementia, frailty and end of life care. We are, therefore, delighted to have Kerry Lyons as our guest lecturer. She is the first Admiral Nurse focusing on frailty and dementia supported by Dementia UK. This session is relevant to all of us working in primary care and palliative care, especially those in Care Homes, District Nurses and General Practice. We have much to learn! |
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