Covid19 Daily Briefing 7 May
**Email sent on behalf of the LMC, Clinical Directors and NHS Calderdale CCG**
Dear All
National Updates
CAS ALERT on Recruiting Patients for Clinical Trials
Primary Care Bulletin Link
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/primary-care/other-resources/primary-care-bulletin/
Updated Summary Documents
GP Connect & CCAS
Please see attached email that we have received around updates to GP Connect and CCAS. The Summary Document will updated shortly.
· NEW Draft Guidance on GP Connect and CCAS – TO REVIEW AND ACTION
· Practices are given the option to choose how they set this up and the number of appointments out of the 1/500 COMBINED requirement
Prescribing – updated 07.5.2020
· Clenil 100mcg inhaler
· Palliative Care
· Community Pharmacy approach to Bank Holiday weekend (8th May 2020) – see attached information on opening hours
Secondary Care – updated 07.05.2020
· Updated contact numbers at CHFT for Advice & Guidance
· Verification of Expected Death
· GP Referrals for X-Ray
· Covid Clinical Pathway
End of Life – updated 07.05.2020
· Overgate Hospice Bereavement Booklet and Death Café
· Links to the Helpline posters in various languages
· Support and Guidance which may be useful for South Asian Communities
National Testing
From the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Forum
Across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we have been scaling up our efforts to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support keyworkers, and ultimately save lives. Alongside local testing centres, thousands of tests are being made available at the National West Yorkshire centres at the Temple Green drive-through in Leeds, Bradford University car park, Horton Road; and four satellites services at Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley and Wakefield.
As we increase our testing capacity, we are continuing to expand the offer to a wider group of people and members of their household. Further information about eligible groups is here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
As an extension to the national testing programme, and with the aim of increasing access to testing, two mobile testing sites will be operating at:
· Todmorden sports centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 6-8th May
· Scissett baths, Wakefield Road, Scissett, Huddersfield 7th-9th May
People need to book a testing appointment via the national booking system at: www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test
The mobile units offer drive through and pedestrian testing. Opening times may vary.
The number of tests is additional to the current facilities with NHS laboratories in our local hospitals.
ENDS
Local Testing
Coronavirus Testing now Available in Halifax
Self-service tests are now available in Halifax for essential workers and members of their household who have coronavirus symptoms. You can apply online yourself at www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/test
The testing hub in Halifax is self-service, but don’t worry, you will be given clear instructions on how to do the test yourself. Your swab will then be sent off for testing and you will receive a text message within 48 hours with your result.
Testing should ideally take place within the first three days of the onset of symptoms at the time the test is taken – although testing is considered effective up until day five. If you’ve had your symptoms for longer than five days you cannot be tested and should continue to follow self-isolation guidance.
If your test result turns out to be negative you can safely return to work, as long as:
· you are well enough
· you have not had a high temperature for 48 hours
· anyone you live with also tests negative
If your test result is positive, or someone you live with tests positive, you cannot return to work. You’ll need to continue to self-isolate. Read NHS advice about how long to self-isolate.
If your condition gets worse, or you do not get better after seven days, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Patient Registrations
A reminder that during the pandemic, GP registrations can be made by any means, including by post and digital options. A signed, scanned application or picture of a signed application emailed to the practice is acceptable. [this is referred to in 4.4.3 GP Connect Draft Guidance in c) above]
Practices should continue to register new patients, including those with no fixed address, asylum seekers and refugees.
Absence of photo identification or a fixed address is not a reason to refuse a patient registration.
Key Messages from 5.5.2020
Apologies, I think I may have missed the Calderdale Practice Managers Distribution Group from this email, so attached again just in case.
As a reminder, the Key Messages are published on the LMC Website and the CCG Website here: https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/MC-covid/
The Summary Documents are now published here: https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/summary-documents/
Many thanks and wishing you all a lovely weekend.