CCG Key Messages 29 July

Key Messages

Guidance - New recommendations for primary and community health care providers in England

Latest update on guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations for primary and community health care providers in England. It advises all providers of primary and community health services should ensure that measures are in place so that all settings are, where practicable, COVID-secure, using social distancing, optimal hand hygiene, frequent surface decontamination, ventilation and other measures, where appropriate.

 

The change for Primary Care is that the guidance in place for staff and patients to wear face coverings and masks in hospital settings has been extended to primary care settings, including GP Practices.

b) Face Mask Exemption Requests

We are aware that General Practice is being approached to provide letters of support to people who do not feel able to wear a face covering. The Government guidance suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption stating it should be sufficient for someone to declare that they are eligible for an exemption direct with the person questioning them (eg bus driver). Practices are therefore not required to provide letters of support for those who fall under the list of exemptions, or to those who do not fall under the list of exemptions.

Having said that we are aware from conversations with a number of disability groups that people are feeling under pressure when out and about and the CCG have been approached to signpost people to face mask exemption cards. An example has been shared from Sheffield CCG and with support of Calderdale local authority we have adapted this for Calderdale. The link to that and other national cards can be found below. You are welcome to put the link on your websites or signpost people to this if you are continuing to get enquiries. https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/exempt/

c) NHSMail email and action 4th August 2020

Users will have received an email already in relation to the planned refresh of NHSMail due 4th August 2020 and we are already being asked if the email is genuine - It is and the attached comms will support you in understanding

d) Optimise Rx ‘learning at lunch’ sessions for GPs, PCN pharmacists and NMP.

Optimise Rx are running two 45 minute sessions in August and will cover:

· How OptimiseRx works; from online portal to point of care messaging

· The content and informatics behind the messages, referencing National Guidance and local prescribing priorities

· The results OptimiseRx delivers e.g. key therapy area best practice guidance around AKI and ACB

· How OptimiseRx supports the PCN DES

· Q&A

If this will be of interest to you, please register via https://interactive.fdbhealth.com/optimiserxwebinar or see the attached.

e) COPI Notices – Extended

There is an update on the NHSx Website https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/covid-19-response/data-and-information-governance/information-governance/copi-notice-frequently-asked-questions/ advising that COPI Notices have been extended until March 2021.

“COPI Notices have now been extended until the end of March 2021 to help give healthcare organisations and Local Authorities the confidence to share the data needed to respond to Covid-19. This means that at the end of March 2021, the processing of data will be stopped and information shared for the specific purpose of COVID-19 will be deleted”

f) Supply issues with Enalapril 20mg tablets

Medicine

Out of stock until

Alternatives

(NB FP10 prescriptions must indicate that a special is required/prescribed by the GP if relevant)

MSN/2020/044

Enalapril 20mg tablets

August 2020

Unlicensed imports of enalapril 20mg tablets can be sourced.

Alternate strengths of enalapril (2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg) tablets remain available.

g) Updated GP Connect Summary Document attached.

h) Yorkshire and Humber Screening and Immunisation Update 13th July 2020 details attached

i) Diabetes Clinical Network Update for Yorkshire and the Humber - July 2020 details attached

j) Neurodevelopmental Assessments

The Open Minds Partnership (OMP) provide neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people to identify whether or not they have an underlying neurodevelopmental condition, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Download the document below for an update on the current status of these assessments.

https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COVID-19-update-on-Neurodevelopmental-Assessments-provided.pdf

k) Research Update: Advanced notice of forthcoming NIHR portfolio research opportunity (non-COVID-19 study) Please respond by 6th August 2020.

As in previous years CRN Wessex are supporting the Drug Safety Research Unit to run the Fluenz Tetra Safety Surveillance study. The sponsors are currently looking for expressions of interest from GP practices. From the EOIs received, 40 GP practices will be selected. Please see information below and details attached

Study title:

Fluenz Tetra Safety Surveillance study 2020/21

IRAS No.:

286671

Support costs/payment:

There are no service support costs associated with this study. However, the sponsor is reimbursing

£543 per practice to cover the research costs. (Practices are required to hand out a minimum of 200 information packs).

What is required:

Practice nurses are asked to hand out information packs to all children who have had the flu vaccine. Prior to this each pack will need to be populated with the date of the vaccine, batch number and site number (the sponsor will provide stickers to aid this process). Each week the nurse will need to complete a data capture form where they collect aggregate data relating to the number of children vaccinated/age/sex/number who were given a pack.

Study status:

Awaiting HRA approval.

To express interest:

To express interest, practices should complete the EOI google form, link: https://forms.gle/6Po1g1Wmut8qwKKG6

Deadline for expressions of interest:

6th August 2020

Additional notes:

· The study summary attached provides further details.

· Expressing interest does not commit the practice to participate. Nor does it guarantee involvement.

Attachments