Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin

Key points this week include:

• fraud alert
• National Patient Safety Alert - harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy
• Adult Community Specialist Palliative Care in North West London update
• SMS patient messaging - October 2025 data
• Westminster Public Health information briefing
• Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services contacts update
• Cora Health - high-volume clinical letter incident.

Education and training:

• Hammersmith & Fulham Hospice at Home information sessions
• help shape new Armed Forces training
• non-clinical practice staff cervical screening - webinar recording.

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.

Fraud alert

Our counter fraud provider has highlighted a new email impersonation scam affecting a GP practice, where fraudsters posed as senior partners or clinicians using spoofed or look‑alike email addresses to request urgent, high‑value bank transfers. One payment was partially made before the fraud was detected. We’re sharing this fraud alert (PDF) to help practices recognise common warning signs and ensure that all staff with authority to approve payments remain vigilant against these increasingly sophisticated attempts.

National Patient Safety Alert - harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy

This joint National Patient Safety Alert has been issued by the NHS England National Patient Safety team, in collaboration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of General Practitioners, on the risk of harm from healthcare staff incorrectly recording patients' penicillin allergies as penicillamine allergies in electronic prescribing systems. Find out more on the Central Alerting System and NHS North West London websites.

Adult Community Specialist Palliative Care in North West London update

Since 2021, NHS North West London has worked with residents, families, clinicians, hospices and community groups to understand what matters most in specialist palliative and end‑of‑life care. Together we developed a fair, compassionate model aligned with national aims for personalised, high‑quality support.

We began rolling out improvements from October 2025 with an expectation all improvements will be in place by October 2027, with many people already benefiting from better access, longer hours and stronger support.

An update on progress and next steps is now available on the NHS North West London website.

SMS patient messaging - October 2025 data

Firstly, thank you for your patience in waiting for the SMS patient messaging data. The digital transformation and delivery team has been working with SMS providers to ensure that all of the information is correct. We will share the November, December and January data in the next few weeks. We have been working with the suppliers to ensure that the information shared with practices is more detailed and fully transparent. The second tab will show how many messages are sent from the following providers:

• Accurx
• clinical systems messaging
• Patchs
• Blinx.

Please note that all messaging providers use the BT/EE gateway to send the messages through the messaging platform (such as Patchs or Accurx). Once the new dashboard is read we will notify GP practices. All SMS patient information will go via the GP bulletin. 

From April 2025, the SMS allocation was reduced to 30p per patient, as agreed by NWL ICB under a three-year business case. This change has been previously communicated via bulletins, emails, and webinars, and shared with the LMC.

The October SMS data dashboard (password i7gh6hfg)  shows usage by GP practices across Accurx and clinical systems, including online consultation providers. It excludes self-funded providers and those not on the same gateway. The dashboard also includes NHS App message volumes.

Once practices exceed the 30p per patient allocation, they are likely to be charged for additional SMS use. These charges will appear on your PCSE statement – no payment have been recharged to date. The dashboard provides forecasts to help practices plan ahead, including when and by how much they may exceed the allocation.

Historical data shows SMS volumes peak in October, January, and February. We have factored this into the forecast. Last year’s spend is included for reference, informing whether practices exceeded the previous 45p allocation. 

NHS North West London has asked GP practices to sign an MOU confirming their understanding of the 30p allocation and agreeing to cover any overspend. If this has not been completed please sign the form and send to Digital First.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Digital Transformation and Delivery team via Digital First.

Westminster Public Health information briefing

The latest update (PDF) includes information on vaccinations and local services in Westminster.

Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services contacts update
 
Contacts details for support with pathology queries/concerns are listed in a table (PDF). 

Cora Health - high-volume clinical letter incident

Please find an update (PDF) from Cora Health regarding the high-volume clinical letter incident. This follows an earlier communication sent to practices outlining the initial position and actions taken.

Hammersmith & Fulham Hospice at Home information sessions

The new Hospice at Home service for Hammersmith and Fulham, St John’s Hospice are offering online information sessions for referrers to provide more information on this new service.

The session dates and Teams joining links can be found below:

• Monday 23 February 2026, 5 - 5.45pm
• Tuesday 24 February 2026, 12.30 – 1.30pm
• Thursday 26 February 2026, 8.30 - 9.30am.

You don't need to register, just click the joining link at the start of the session.

Help shape new armed forces training 
 
You’re invited to contribute to new armed forces training designed to help GPs and primary care teams better support veterans, reservists and their families. The virtual module takes under 30 minutes and your feedback will help ensure it is practical, relevant and easy to implement in everyday primary care.

You can join a virtual focus group to review the draft module, sense‑check clarity and usability, and highlight anything that would support rollout across practices and neighbourhood teams.

Focus group options (click to register via the Teams event page):

• 25 February 2026, 1 - 3pm - Armed Forces Healthcare Training and Education – PCN Module – Focus Group 1

• 27 February 2026, 11am - 1pm - Armed Forces Healthcare Training and Education – PCN Module – Focus Group 2

Please feel free to share this with colleagues who may also want to take part.

Non-clinical practice staff cervical screening - webinar recording

This short session has been produced in conjunction with RM Partners Cancer Alliance to provides information about the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, including tips on answering any patient queries. 

The session covers:

• the NHS Cervical Screening Programme
• supporting patients to make an appointment
• managing bookings and results (including the NHS app notifications)
• tackling barriers to engagement for your patients.

Watch the recording via the North West London Training Hub website.