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Bowel screening update – August 2019

NHS England have provided an information sheet to explain the introduction of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). This replaced the guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBt) at the start of June. The main benefit of the FIT is that it is easier to use; only one sample is required compared to gFOBt, which required three […]

Tackling social isolation and loneliness to improve health

Colin Brown, UK Director for Independent Living & Crisis Response at British Red Cross looks at how their expertise will be of use to social prescribing link workers, as they take up their roles with Primary Care Networks. In recent months there’s been a real shift in seeing the value of non-clinical interventions to improve […]

Primary care buddying system

The NHS London Leadership Academy is working with primary care providers to support development in the sector, and to facilitate wider working across the health and social care system. They are offering a tailored organisational development (OD) programme for at least 25 leaders from primary care. The programme’s key focus is how best to build […]

Vaccination update August 2019

Hepatitis B in at risk babies Babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B require a course of hep B vaccination. The first dose is given within 24 hours in the maternity units, but the rest of the course is provided within general practice. Monovalent Hep B is given at 4 weeks of age, followed […]

Londonwide LMCs’ support for Primary Care Network Clinical Directors

The introduction of the PCN DES means significant changes in the way practices deliver some existing services, and the rolling out of a new range of services. Londonwide LMCs is well placed to support PCN Clinical Directors (CDs) in managing and navigating these changes, while continuing to provide the services to all GPs and practices […]

Tips of the month August 2019

We provide weekly tips based on common queries which come through to us from London GPs and practice teams. These are shared via social media and collated for this newsletter.   CQC notification timeframes: • Changes to statement of purpose: within 28 days. • Planned absences for 28+ days: 28 days before absence begins. • […]

Safeguarding payments and collaborative arrangements

On 11 July 2019 Dr David Geddes, NHSE/I Director of Primary Care Commissioning, wrote to CCGs and STPs advising that payment for safeguarding activity is not covered by core NHS contracts and should be payable via other mechanisms (he gives examples of CCG payment under collaborative arrangements and via LIS). The letter is available here, local […]

Congratulations to Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer on becoming CEO of Cambridgeshire LMCs

At the start of August Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer took over from Dr Guy Watkins as Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire LMC. Katie trained as a GP in London and was previously a medical director at Londonwide LMCs. Dr Michelle Drage, Chief Executive of Londonwide LMCs said: “Congratulations to Katie from all of us at Londonwide LMCs. She has […]

CNSGP confirmed to cover safeguarding reports

NHS England and NHS Resolution have confirmed that the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice (CNSGP) does cover GPs for claims relating to reports produced in response to safeguarding requests, for claims relating to activity undertaken since 1 April 2019. NHS Resolution had previously taken the position that safeguarding reports were not covered by CNSGP because […]