Covid19 Daily Briefing 2 June
**Email sent on behalf of the LMC, Clinical Directors and NHS Calderdale CCG**
a) Principles of safe video consulting in general practice - Attached
Updated guidance attached. Full details can also be found at https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/preparedness-letters-for-general-practice/
b) GP standard operating procedure version 3 – attached with BMA Summary
Full details can also be found at https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/primary-care/general-practice/standard-operating-procedures/
Sources of Information on Shielding
Attached updated guidance for your information, for patients and clinicians detailing the sources from which they can obtain information for shielded patients.
Update to guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding)
You will have seen that the Government has updated the guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid 19 and have been advised to shield. The update from Government comes into effect from today. In summary the changes are:
The advice for people identified as clinically extremely vulnerable is that they should continue to shield until at least the 30 June but from 1 June, they can spend a short period of time outdoors each day with members of their household, still maintaining 2m distance from others.
If the shielded person lives alone, the Government is advising they can meet one other person from a different household, maintaining strict social distancing. The advice is that this be the same person each time.
Important aspects of Government’s policy and guidance remain the same. Apart from going outside once per day, a shielded person should continue to avoid all non-essential face to face contact. This means they should still not go shopping or to pharmacies.
The support for shielded people remains in place and unchanged.
The Government has also confirmed that it will be reviewing shielding guidance alongside wider changes to social distancing, including plans to write to those on the shielding patients list with information about next steps on shielding after the next review on 15 June.
Green sites update (Baby imms underway)
Locala report that clinics are beginning to be fully utilised at the green sites. Locala are going to ask for some feedback from parents who are using the service as this may be useful in planning for future ways of working. Early reports suggest that, in the main the feedback has been positive for parents accessing a green site; however some have been reluctant to attend a different site. At present Locala are still working to the government guidance that has suspended their routine work until the end of July 2020. They are keen to continue to support in the meantime and will provide you with sufficient notice if the instructions change. For Emis practices there is now a function allowing the health visitors to see records on third party viewing to ensure previous immunisations can be viewed and Emis practices can also view the child health records.
It is likely that PCNs will be discussing the future of the green sites as part of the re-set discussions facilitated by Red Sky and therefore thought an update would be timely. There is a need to consider alternative premises from the end of June for Lawson Road and this will be discussed in the Lower Valley and then through the CDs
f) Primary Care Bulletin 2nd June 2020 : Latest bulletin can be found here
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) portal access
Throughout May and June 2020, Department of Health and Social Care has been inviting GPs and small social care providers (both residential and domiciliary) to register and order with the PPE portal, in order to help meet their emergency PPE needs, supplementing the default wholesale supply route.
Please ensure that all providers of these types regularly check their email accounts registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) / Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in order to ensure that the email invitation is received and actioned.
g) Tell us about your health and care experiences during the pandemic
Healthwatch Calderdale would like to hear from keyworkers who have worked in health and care services during the Covid-19 outbreak.
In Calderdale we want to ensure that the positives in health and care during the Covid-19 outbreak are not lost and the negatives do not become the norm.
The survey is anonymous – but your feedback will help us shape future health and care and make a positive difference. This survey will be open until 28th August 2020
Please click on the link to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ptnrs20
h) Research Opportunity: NHS Work Communication & Impact of COVID-19
Sponsor: Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
The study team would like to invite all NHS staff to take part in a survey exploring how work-life balance is being affected by work-related communications before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. They would like to understand the impact on us as healthcare staff and find out what may help improve our work-life balance during this time and in the future.
This study involves completing a short online survey. Should you as NHS staff wish to undertake the study, it is accessible here:
Mobile and Desktop Friendly Main Site
https://covid5hlmbshxf4mkf.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e2LcVRwC9Xy37IV
Desktop Friendly and Back Up site