8 January 2025
Bulletin
UKHSA advice; Pneumococcal vaccine changes; Childhood immunisation updates; Lakeside MHCAS service; Children’s asthma diagnostic service and more.

Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin

Key points this week include:
  • UKHSA advice on consent for immunisations administered by healthcare support workers
  • Community district nursing – updated service specification
  • Orthotics and MSK podiatry referrals in Brent, Ealing and Harrow - updated information for Ealing GPs
  • NWL children’s asthma diagnostic service
  • Paediatric patients requiring urgent assessment in the Paediatric Emergency Department
  • New personalisation webpage – supporting tailored care for patients
  • CDC adult breathlessness and diagnostic services
  • Services at Carmelita House are changing temporarily
  • Digital letters
  • New mental health service to reduce pressure on A&Es -  Lakeside MHCAS
  • Education on specialist maternity care services survey
  • GMC opens consultation on guidance
  • PCV20 pneumococcal vaccination programme letter
  • Change of vaccine for the routine adult pneumococcal vaccination programme and individuals at increased clinical risk
  • Latest UKHSA vaccine updates
  • Childhood imms schedule changes
  • The NHSE interim NHS App training and education hub is now live
  • NeuroSmart webinars
  • Free London Physical Activity Clinical Champion training- 2026 booking now open to all healthcare professionals
  • 2026 GP and hospital forum dates
  • Pregnancy webinar
If you have any submissions for this bulletin please email them to the communications inbox - nhsnwl.communications.nwl@nhs.net. View previous editions.


Please note the deadline for submissions is 3pm each Monday.
UKHSA advice on consent for immunisations administered by healthcare support workers

Please see the attached letters from UKHSA and the NWL Director of Nursing - Primary Care and Nurse Director for the NWL Training Hub, outlining the process for obtaining consent before healthcare support workers administer immunisations. 

Advice on consent to immunisation

Consent requirements and legal framework for vaccination services
Community district nursing – updated service specification, agreed housebound definition, and next steps

Across North West London, community providers and system partners have worked to refresh the service specification for community district nursing. This update is about ensuring a high quality equitable service for residents, getting care to those who need it most, strengthening sustainability, and supporting you to refer patients to the right service, first time.
Orthotics and MSK podiatry referrals in Brent, Ealing and Harrow - updated information for Ealing GPs

Adult orthotics referrals

London North West University Healthcare is not currently accepting GP referrals for adult orthotics through the electronic referrals service (eRS).

Community MSK hubs in Harrow and Brent and Community podiatry in Ealing will continue to be able to refer podiatry cases requiring specialist orthotics support onto the service as appropriate.

The change will mean swifter assessments for patients and will allow the team to make sure that they are treated in the most appropriate setting for their needs. 

Read the full updated information here.
NWL children’s asthma diagnostic service

Please find details of the North West London children and young people’s diagnostic service for suspected asthma.

NWL currently has 2 sites for asthma diagnostics for children and young people aged 5-17 years.
Paediatric patients requiring urgent assessment in the Paediatric Emergency Department 

All paediatric patients (aged 0–15 years) requiring urgent assessment in the Paediatric Emergency Department at Hillingdon Hospital must be referred verbally prior to sending them to the hospital.

Contact details:

Paediatric Registrar: Bleep 5543 via Switchboard 01895 238282
Acute Paediatric Consultant (available 24/7): 07827 305407

Full information and key points available here.
New personalisation webpage – supporting tailored care for patients

A new personalisation webpage has been launched to help GPs and practice teams deliver more personalised care across North West London.

The webpage brings together key information and practical resources to support teams in embedding personalisation into everyday practice. It includes:
  • guidance and tools for personalised care planning
  • training opportunities and support materials
  • updates on local initiatives and best practice
Personalisation ensures that patients have more choice and control over their health and wellbeing. This new resource hub makes it easier for colleagues to access everything they need in one place.

Explore the personalisation webpage here.
CDC adult breathlessness and diagnostic services

Please find attached information regarding the shortness of breath (breathlessness) one-stop diagnostic pathway, operating across Willesden Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and Ealing Community Diagnostic Centre (Ealing Hospital site).

This is a one-stop diagnostic pathway for patients with ongoing breathlessness where no clear cardiac or respiratory cause has been identified.

The attached letter outlines the purpose of the service, referral criteria, referral process via eRS, diagnostics provided and contact details.
For all general practices using NWL pathology services:

1. Guidance around seasonal pseudohyperkalaemia and poster information

2. Consumables information.
Services at Carmelita House are changing temporarily 

Children’s Services from Carmelita House, West London NHS Trust, will be temporarily moved while essential renovation work is carried out to improve the environment for patients, families and staff.

This temporary measure is expected to last until the start of the new school year in September 2026.
Families are reassured that children’s appointments will continue without delay throughout 2026 at other clinic locations across Ealing during this time. Services are being delivered as usual, just from alternative clinics. Appointment letters will have all the details of the new location for families to plan their journey.

Any questions or concerns, please contact the Children’s Hub via the Contact Centre on 0300 12345 44 (Option 3), where the team will be happy to provide further information and support.
Digital letters

Maternity services at West Middlesex University Hospital have now transitioned to digital letters and communication, supporting the Trust’s commitment to becoming paperless. Colleagues and patients should be aware that maternity correspondence, including prescription requests and other communications, will now be issued digitally.
New mental health service to reduce pressure on A&Es -  Lakeside MHCAS

A new Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) has opened at West Middlesex Hospital, run by West London NHS Trust. This is the second service in North West London, alongside the existing site at St Charles Hospital.

Lakeside Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) provides a calm and therapeutic setting for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The service offers urgent mental health care and support. The team can be contacted on 0208 483 1681 or 0208 483 1686.

Summary of services
Visit WLT's winter wellness page for information on the full range of physical and mental health support services available.

SPA contact information
Help is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The Single Point of Access (SPA) team can be reached on 0800 328 4444 or 0800 0234 650.

Talking Therapies
Talking Therapies is a free NHS service available across a number of areas. The information below highlights the support available specifically in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Hounslow, The service provides a range of evidence based therapies to support people with common mental health difficulties. More information, including referral details, is available here.
Education on specialist maternity care services survey

The maternity specialist services, including MTLC, PPH, Maternal Medicine, and Post‑Birth Contraception, are preparing a webinar to support GPs and wider health professionals across Northwest London.

To inform the development of this session, the team is seeking insights directly from colleagues working in primary care.

A short questionnaire has been created to help the team understand current awareness of existing GP webinars and identify the topics that would be most useful when supporting preconception and postnatal patients.

Primary care input will be invaluable in ensuring that the voices and needs of colleagues are reflected in the upcoming webinar. 

Link to survey.
GMC opens consultation on guidance

The GMC are updating their guidance on ‘Leadership and management’ and ‘Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety’. The UK’s healthcare system has evolved significantly since these documents were first published in 2012, and while the guidance has undergone technical updates, this is the first in-depth review.

The consultation will be open for 12 weeks from 30 October 2025 to 22 January 2026, and can be accessed via the online consultation platform.

For more information, please contact: helen.keynes@nhs.net
PCV20 pneumococcal vaccination programme letter

The UKHSA and NHSE letter setting out the upcoming change of vaccine for the routine pneumococcal vaccination programme for adults and individuals at increased clinical risk, has now been published on the pneumococcal vaccination programme page on GOV.UK. 

Change of vaccine for the routine adult pneumococcal vaccination programme and individuals at increased clinical risk - GOV.UK
Latest UKHSA vaccine updates

Vaccine update: issue 366, December 2025 - GOV.UK - Christmas special, flu survey, how we did it: from the Explore Community Innovation Team in Knowsley, routine and non-routine vaccine supply

Vaccine update: issue 367, December 2025, Childhood schedule changes special - GOV.UK - childhood immunisation schedule changes phase 2, updated guidance publications for the MMRV programme, updated resources to support the delivery of the childhood immunisation programme, MMR and MMRV vaccine supply.

NHS vaccination strategy progress infographic

Please find attached a useful infographic on progress made on the NHS vaccination strategy for your information.

Childhood imms schedule changes - MMRV resources on GOV.UK

Please find attached some direct links to the Childhood imms schedule changes - MMRV resources published on GOV.UK to date.

Education and training
The NHSE interim NHS App training and education hub is now live

Join the NHS App training and education hub to learn:
  • practical step by step tips for using the app
  • what GP surgeries or pharmacists need to do in their IT systems to make the NHS App work
  • how to troubleshoot and solve common problems patients may encounter with the NHS App
  • plans for the NHS App.
You can also find materials to use in your workplace or via the website to promote the app.

The training and education hub brings together all existing NHS App training and support resources into one accessible space.

This is an interim solution while the official training model is being developed.
NeuroSmart webinars

North London Neurosurgery Network would like to invite all North London GPs to join a new monthly lunchtime webinar series. The sessions are delivered on Microsoft Teams, where a member of the clinical team will deliver a 15-minute presentation on a Neurosurgical condition (cranial, spinal and more) followed by 15 minutes of Q&A time for GP. Each month focuses on a different condition. 

These virtual sessions aim to provide free, 30 minutes accessible education for GPs on common neurosurgical conditions, referral considerations, and clinical decision-making. 

Next two webinar events are scheduled for Wednesday 14 January, 12:30 - 13:00 and Friday 27 February 12:30 - 13:00.

If you would like to join this monthly Neurosurgical webinar series and be invited to all future dates, please contact Sanjay.gurung@nhs.net.
Free London Physical Activity Clinical Champion training- 2026 booking now open to all healthcare professionals

Working in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, London, the team is pleased to announce a series of engaging introductory sessions on the Physical Activity Clinical Champions (PACC) programme. These sessions focus on how brief physical activity conversations can be integrated into everyday practice to improve patient outcomes. 

This session will be delivered by expert Sports and Exercise Medicine Registrars and covers:
  • why physical activity matters in clinical care
  • how to confidently deliver brief interventions
  • practical tools you can start using immediately with your patients
This is an accessible, evidence based session aimed at all clinicians looking to strengthen their preventative practice and support patients to move more. Everyone is welcome to attend.
  • Wednesday 14 January | 12:30 – 13:30
  • Wednesday 28 January | 12:30 – 13:30
  • Wednesday 11 February | 12:30 – 13:30
  • Wednesday 25 February | 12:30 – 13:30
  • Wednesday 12 March | 12:30 – 13:30
  • Wednesday 25 March | 12:30 – 13:30
  • Wednesday 8 April | 12:30 – 13:30
Click here to sign up.

More information available on flyer.
2026 GP and hospital forum dates 

Please see the following calendar dates and links for the 2026 GP and hospital forum meetings (no need to register, just click on the link to join the meeting):

Wednesdays, 1pm – 2pm – Meeting link: Join the meeting now 
  • Wednesday 28 January   
  • Wednesday 11 March 
  • Wednesday 22 April   
  • Wednesday 3 June  
  • Wednesday 15 July 
  • Wednesday 26 August   
  • Wednesday 7 October  
  • Wednesday 18 November  
Pregnancy webinar

UKHSA and NHS England are hosting the next webinar in their communicating vaccines series, focusing on maternal vaccines. The session will take place via Microsoft Teams on Monday 12 January 2026, 12:30–13:45.

The webinar will explore how to communicate the benefits of vaccines offered during pregnancy. It will include an overview of the latest epidemiological data, a refresh on available vaccines and their benefits, a review of progress to date, and guidance on how colleagues can help promote vaccination. There will also be time for a Q&A at the end.

Colleagues can register their interest via Microsoft Forms.

The session will be recorded. Anyone wishing to receive the recording should sign up using the same link.

For any questions about the webinar, please contact externalaffairs@ukhsa.gov.uk.