Primary Care E-bulletin (Issue 36) - 18 May 2020

In this issue

• Summary of today’s mid and south Essex broadcast teleconference
• Risk assessments for BAME staff members
• Sessional use of PPE
• Update to COVID-19 symptoms
• COVID-19 testing
• Mid and south Essex Partnership update
• Remote working in primary care webinar
• COVID-19 Essex arrangements for care homes and end of life care
• Possible cervical screening text messaging scam
• NHSE primary care COVID-19 bulletin

Summary of today’s mid and south Essex broadcast teleconference

Please click below to download the notes from the primary care broadcast teleconference which took place today (18 May 2020).

Please note: There will be no broadcast teleconference on Wednesday 20 May. The next teleconference will take place on Friday 22 May.

Risk assessments for BAME staff members

Please click below or visit the new website to help inform the risk assessment you are carrying out, to better inform your consideration of the particular risks and concerns of your BME team members.

Sessional use of PPE

The guidance below highlights the sessional use and reuse of PPE, in the event of supply issues.

For more guidance and information about PPE, visit the website.

Update to COVID-19 symptoms

There has been an update to the COVID-19 symptoms, as follows:

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following: 

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia).

Updated guidance can be found on the Government website

COVID-19 testing

Reminder that information about testing across mid and south Essex is available on the new website.

The website also includes updated information on national COVID-19 testing sites across Essex (including mobile testing sites) and more information on things like home delivery test kits.

MSE partnership update

Please click below to read the latest Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership brief, which covers the incident response to COVID-19 from across the partnership.

Education and training

Digital primary care: remote working in primary care

When: Tuesday 19th May 5:00 - 6:00pm

What: The session explores the reality of remote working from a number of different practice perspectives such as GP, Nursing, sessional GPs, CCG, the wider team working in PCNs and administrative staff.

If you would like to keep up to date with further webinars and events you can do so from our FutureNHS workspace.

If you are not already a member and would like to be please email [email protected] and request an invitation.

COVID-19 Essex arrangements for care homes and end of life

When: Tuesday 19th May 12.30 until 1.30pm

What: Learn about the Essex arrangements for accessing End of Life Medicines and your role in the Re-Use of Medicines Scheme in Care Homes. 

This is relevant to all pharmacy staff whether you are working in community pharmacy, GP practices, primary care, community services, acute or mental health services.

It is important that everyone knows about the arrangements which have been put in place so please share this invitation with colleagues.

Information about accessing End of Life Medicines and the Re-Use of Medicines Scheme in Care Homes can be found here.