Page last updated: 12 May, 2020, 6:04pm
Primary Care E-briefing (Issue 33) - 11 May 2020
In this issue:
- For action: HIE/GP connect
- Summary of today’s mid and south Essex broadcast teleconference
- Online consultations and video consultations: NHS futures platform
- Arrangements for swabbing care home staff/residents
- SETDAB: domestic abuse e-learning
- Proxy access for care homes: medication ordering
- COVID-19 digital nurse network
- Maternity and COVID-19 resources
- Compassion in dying: new resource for GPs
- Signatures not required for healthy start vouchers
- NHSE primary care COVID-19 bulletin
FOR ACTION: Health Information Exchange/GP Connect
For the purposes of delivering care for individuals during this COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that information can be shared between services.
There are two separate projects that require some configuration of clinical systems at each GP practice to make this happen.
We are therefore providing advice, support and guidance on both projects in one go to make it as easy as possible to action.
The two separate projects are:
- GP Connect: that enables 111 to triage and book non-COVID-19 patient appointments at respective GP practices
- Health Information Exchange: that allows health and care professionals in locations such as the Nightingale Hospital to digitally access records held by other services.
More information can be found on the Digital Primary Care and IT Support page.
Support with Day to Day Issues
Summary of today’s mid and south Essex broadcast teleconference
Please click on the button below to download the notes from today’s primary care broadcast teleconference (11 May 2020).
The next teleconference will take place on Wednesday 13 May at 13:00. The telephone number to join is 0330 336 4321 and the audience code 30360589#.
Online consultations and video consultations: Future NHS platform
A regional project has recently been established to support the implementation of online triage and video consultation in general practice in response to COVID 19. As part of this work, a Future NHS platform has been established to provide CCGs and practices with support materials and a forum for discussions to aid implementation and roll out of digital platforms supporting remote consultations.
All practices and practice staff are invited to join the Futures site to gain access to resources to support the use of Online Consultations and Video Consultations tools in general practice. The site contains FAQs, sample data protection impact assessments, implementation guides, training guides and public and patient communications materials. The materials are frequently updated and can be adapted and used by practices during implementation. In addition, the futures platform contains a message forum where you can post questions to seek responses to issues that you are facing regarding remote consultations and will allow the sharing of good practice and knowledge.
Please be mindful however of any national guidance and any local changes that may apply.
Future NHS East of England Digital Primary Care workspace
Updates from Wider System in Mid and South Essex
Arrangements for swabbing care home staff/residents
Commisceo have been commissioned to take referrals from care homes for the swabbing of patients and staff across mid and south Essex. For information:
- In the event of the first outbreak – which is considered to be a symptomatic resident or member of staff, the care home must follow their usual process of contacting the Health Protection Team for outbreak advice. The swabbing is commissioned from Commisceo and will be overseen by PHE – this is normal outbreak process.
- In the event of further outbreaks Commisceo have been commissioned to attend care homes and swab patients/staff as required – details outline below:
Process
The homes will need to email referral/s to the following email account: [email protected]. They prefer to take emails but the home can also call for advice on 07953 182022.
They need to include the following information:
- Name of the Home and Post Code
- Contact details of the person to liaise with
- Names/s
- DOB/s
- NHS Numbers/s
The homes should only notify Commisceo directly if they have already declared an outbreak to PHE. So, additional information required is the date they notified PHE and the number of residents already swabbed.
If this is the first case(s) they should contact PHE in the normal way. Also, please note this is a developing strategy and may change.
Education and Training
SETDAB: Domestic abuse e-learning
There has been a significant reduction in DA referrals and numbers since lockdown began. The course below has been pulled together by the Domestic Abuse Partnership across Southend, Essex and Thurrock to raise basic awareness of domestic abuse.
Access the training on the SETDAB website
Proxy access for care homes - medication ordering
Tuesday 12th May 12:30
For the attention of GP practices, Care home staff and commissioners.
This webinar is to support you during and after COVID-19 with successfully setting up proxy access for medication in care homes.
Each 30 minute webinar will consist of a 15 minute presentation with 15 minutes Q&A panel.
What will be covered:
- Proxy access for care homes
- NHS mail
- Tips for implementing
- Guidance and support.
COVID-19 Digital Nurse Network
Thursday 14th May 16:30
A 30-minute webinar to increase your awareness of the network and the support on offer to nursing teams throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why? To reduce the pressure on primary care, improve medical outcomes and provide better patient and staff experience.
Register on the NHS England website
For Information
Maternity and COVID-19 resources
Please find below resources regarding maternity and COVID-19, developed by the LMS in partnership with our maternity voices partnership. Please do download and use these as appropriate.
Compassion in dying: New resource for GPs
Compassion in Dying has published a new resource to support GPs with advance care planning conversations over the phone or video, in the context of coronavirus.
Signatures not required for healthy start vouchers
Healthy Start, a means tested scheme that gives vouchers to pregnant women or families that have a child under four years old to help buy some basic foods, is receiving a number of calls from healthcare professionals checking whether a signature is still needed.
In response, DHSC have confirmed that applicants no longer need to obtain a healthcare professional signature in order to apply to the scheme.