29 October 2020

Action: Check for electronic notifications of pharmacist delivered flu vaccines in your workflow tasks. Make sure that the SNOMED Code of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination given by pharmacist (955691000000108) is entered when adding the data to your clinical system

From 27 October 2020 more GP practices will start to receive electronic notifications when a patient registered with them receives a flu vaccination in a community pharmacy that uses PharmOutcomes or Sonar.

Notifications arrive as a workflow task, which will significantly reduce the number of paper and email notifications you need to manually process, helping to improve quality and timeliness of data.

GP practices using EMIS Web will have this new functionality switched on over the coming weeks. TPP SystmOne GP practices already receive these notifications but will see an increase in volume as more pharmacies begin to send notifications in this way.

If you do not yet receive these notifications, your system supplier will inform you of your switch-on date and provide further information and guidance.

You should also continue to check for notifications received via NHSmail or post

Action: Continue to fill out the SITREP s about staff capacity in practices, in order that NW London can help those practices that are struggling with staff sickness/isolation. Please ensure staff have a completed risk assessment and flu vaccination, and that staff who can work from home should. In addition, ensure you are registered on the PPE portal and have sufficient stocks of PPE

NW London is now seeing the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the capital, with some boroughs near to an infection rate of 200/100,000 population. This is the case for Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham. With the other NW London boroughs also seeing steady increases. Transmission is moving from the younger population to over 65s, where the over 65 rate is now around 100/100,000 and the rate in younger age groups is falling.

The NW London positivity rate is currently at 5%. We wanted to take this opportunity to remind practices to ensure you are registered on the PPE portal and have sufficient stocks of PPE. Continue to fill out the SITREP so that we know about staff capacity in practices and will be able to help those practices that are struggling with staff sickness/isolation. Please ensure staff have a completed risk assessment and flu vaccination, and that staff who can work from home should.

Action: Read the latest NW London NHS guidelines for primary care clinicians on what actions to take for adults after their first fit (see guideline link below)

The NWL Neurology Clinical Reference Group has developed a clinical guideline to be used for adults after their first fit.  The guideline identifies which diagnostics should be completed prior to referral and provides advice on the initial actions that should be taken in primary care whilst an urgent referral is made to the appropriate neurology first fit service.  The guideline also provides details of how to access first fit services across NW London.

The guidelines can be accessed in the normal way through the NWL CCG website: https://www.nwlondonccg.nhs.uk/professionals/referral-guidelines-and-clinical-documents/neurology

Any feedback on the pathway should be sent to nwlccgs.outpatient@nhs.net, please note that patient specific issues should be taken up directly with the appropriate trust.

Action: Note that from 30 November, St Mary's and Charing Cross A&Es will join NHS 111 First service - providing booked appointments for patients with urgent but not life-threatening medical needs

From 30 November, anyone who needs urgent care at St Mary's or Charing Cross A&E will be able to book a face-to-face appointment by first contacting NHS 111. This is part of a London-wide initiative being rolled out in phases from 26 October.

Londoners will be asked to contact NHS 111 online or by phone before going to A&E if they have an urgent, but not life-threatening, medical need. Arrangements will not change for people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries, who should continue to dial 999, and anyone arriving at A&E without calling NHS 111 will still receive medical care, with those needing emergency treatment prioritised.

Action: For information, read this week’s flu vaccination letter sent from NHSE to parents of children aged 2 and 3 re: booking an appointment. In addition, the flu vaccination letter sent from NHSE to at risk groups re: booking an appointment. No further action required.

NHS flu programme call and recall letters for 2 and 3 year olds and at risk groups are attached for information.  The 2 and 3 year old flu letter was mailed between 5th-8th October 2020 (1.4 million letters sent); the at risk letters will be mailed 26th-30th October 2020, just over 5 million at risk children and adults will receive a call and recall letter next week.  Please note, at risk children in an age eligible school flu programme cohort are excluded from the at risk mailing to avoid parents/guardians receiving two letters for an at risk child/children also in an age eligible school year group.

Action: From 3 November, use the new mental health single point of access phone number when referring patients. The new number is 0800 328 4444.

West London NHS Trust’s 24/7 mental health single point of access phone number is changing to 0800 328 4444. The new number will be live from 3 November 2020.

The single point of access is used by health professionals seeking referral advice and patients seeking help or advice in a crisis. The number offers access to trained mental health advisors and clinicians, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Further information:

https://westlondon.nhs.uk/news-events/new-mental-health-helpline-number/

Action: Note that you can now refer patients with same day urgent treatment needs to the re-opened St Charles UCC

On Monday 26 October 2020, St Charles Urgent Care Centre (UCC) re-opened as a pre-bookable clinic for people with minor injuries needing same day urgent treatment, such as; minor scalds and burns, minor head injuries or abdominal pain.

Opening hours are Monday – Sunday, 8am – 6pm.

Appointments can be made through NHS 111 and GP.

Action: Note the opening of Parsons Green Booked clinic, appointments must be booked in advance. The service does not accept walk-ins.

On Monday 26 October 2020, Parsons Green Booked Clinic opened providing booked face-to-face and virtual appointments for Hammersmith and Fulham registered patients who have been referred via a primary care triage. To maintain effective infection prevention control at the site, patients can no longer just walk in. Patients who turn up without an appointment will not be seen.

It will be delivering services Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.00pm and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Address: 5-7 Parsons Green, London, SW6 4UL

Action: Celebrate progress and maintain momentum with under 65s at risk cohorts

Practices across North West London are making excellent progress towards reaching our flu targets in the over 65s cohort - we thank you for your on-going hard work on this programme and your now greater focus on increasing the rates in the under 65s at-risk and aged 2-3 cohorts in the coming period. 

Congratulations go to the following practices who have done exceptionally well and have already exceeded their 75% target for the over 65s.

Brent practices

• Preston Medical Centre – 82%
• The Wembley Practice – 77%
• Alperton Medical Centre – 77%

Harrow practices

• Headstone Road Surgery – 79.5%
• Kenton Clinic – 79.3%
• Elliot Hall Medical Centre – 77.5%

Hillingdon practices

• Cedars Medical – 78.1%

A special mention goes to the following practices who are making excellent progress towards reaching the 75% target in at-risk under 65s –

• Alperton Medical Centre at 62%,
• The Surgery (Harrow Road) at 60%,
• Cedars Medical at 53.7%,
• Headstone Lane Medical Centre at 49%
• and Kings Road Surgery at 45.5%.

Care home residents are a particularly important cohort this year, and we are delighted to report great progress in the rates of their vaccination.

We look forward to sharing further good news as practices expand their focus to the vital under 65s at-risk and aged 2-3 cohorts.

Action: Find out more about the new Social Prescribing Link Worker and other new primary care roles at https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/new-roles-in-primary-care/

The new role of “Social Prescribing Link Worker” (SPLW) really proved its value to developing Primary Care Networks during Covid-19, when these staff found new ways to support patients remotely and take the pressure off clinical staff.

The Social Prescribing Link Worker role developed rapidly during the pandemic  as they offered remote practical and emotional support for shielded  patients. At the same time, they benefited from new models of education, training and peer support introduced to support their working during lockdown.

NHS North West London and Bromley by Bow developed sector-wide and borough-based peer support groups, webinars and online education programmes to support Social Prescribing Link Workers working remotely and isolated during lockdown. This online approach to shared learning and emotional support  proved so successful that the training offer received 40 applications for 12 places which resulted in NHS London commissioning a specific North West London training session.

Primary Care Networks appreciate the social prescribing offer and NHSEI have made the SPLW one of roles on the Additional Roles Reimbursement scheme and part of the PCN DES.

In recognition of the value of SPLWs, PCNs across NW London are now looking to recruit additional SPLWs with the aim to have three to four per PCN by 2023/24.

Action: Read the key messages from the NHS and primary care in NW London here and also attached to this email as PDF

Action: Read the presentation here or attached, and find out how volunteers can help support people in your local community

NW London CCGs, working in partnership with HIYOS Hounslow (First Care), have put together a best practice volunteering model that GP practices can use – this includes includes documentation, content and learning. This can be shared and adapted by all NW London practices. For further information please see the attached presentation.

Volunteering has a proud history in the NHS, but it is recognised that it is under developed in primary care (Kings Fund, 2018). Volunteers can support and upskill people in their communities (especially those who are vulnerable/in high risk groups) in a variety of ways at this difficult time, by helping them to use online tools such as their GP practice’s online services (e.g. appointments, consultations) and social networking (reducing isolation/anxiety).

They also help people to manage their own health and wellbeing and/or book their online food shopping. Volunteers can develop their skills, increasing their employability, whilst building their own confidence and feeling valued and part of their community.

Project Lead contact details - george.absi1@nhs.net