Service Updates

Stroke Prevention Day: Prevention in Primary Care 25/1/2021

Last Thursday (14 January) saw the first ever Stroke Prevention Day – an awareness day introduced by the Stroke Association, encouraging people to  make one small change to reduce their risk of stroke.

Stroke prevention is a key priority for primary care and a vital part of this is improving the detection and management of high-risk conditions including Atrial Fibrillation (AF). In this blog, Shahed Ahmad, National Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention, along with two other clinical experts in CVD prevention provide an overview of ongoing work to improve outcomes for patients with AF in England, which includes initial findings from a national programme supporting 23 CCGs to improve the rate of anticoagulation in patients with AF, which is proven to reduce the risk of a AF-related stroke. The blog also discusses leaning from Darlington CCG’s ‘Detect, Protect, Perfect’ model and some of the actions that primary care teams can take to detect AF, protect patients against AF-related strokes and perfect AF management. 

Support to increase GP capacity in primary care workforce  25/1/2021

To support the COVID-19 response, vaccination roll out, and the implementation of the Primary Care Flexible Staff Pools locally, a framework of six approved digital suppliers is now available.

This framework contains digital suppliers whose digital solutions, to be utilised by PCNs and practices, can match additional GP workforce capacity with primary care demand and facilitate flexible staffing pools. Solutions can also facilitate clinician approval, (including onboarding checks), and payment processes, further reducing the admin burden for practices.

Systems may consider using their allocation for the GP Flexible Pools initiative (up to £120k each) to procure digital solutions from this Framework. Commissioners are able to call-off one of six approved digital suppliers: Binary Health (Hyre app); Lantum; Locum Tap (trading as Patchwork); Midlands & Lancashire CSU (Find me a Locum app); My Locum Manager (MLM Flex); and Pairoo.

Further information on the Framework including call-off guidance is available upon request by emailing digitalsupplier.framework@nhs.net. 

Supporting General Practice in 2021/22  25/1/2021

NHS England and NHS Improvement and the BMA General Practitioners Committee England have today published a letter setting out further measures to support general practice in 2021/22. They have agreed that too much remains unclear to confirm contractual arrangements for the whole of 2021/22, but that some reassurance and certainty can be offered now. This includes further new roles through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, QOF arrangements, and confirmation that new PCN services will not be introduced at the beginning of the year from April 2021 given the reprioritisation necessitated by the pandemic.

The BMA held a vote of GPs in England on whether the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) should continue and inform the BMA's future negotiations. 80% were in favour giving the GPC England the mandate to proceed with negotiations on the Network Contract DES for 2021/22. Thank you to those that voted. 

COVID-19 vaccine and fertility 25/1/2021

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have published information and advice for pregnant women about the COVID-19 vaccine, including an updated Q&A section. The College also released a press notice, responding to misinformation around the COVID-19 vaccine and fertility.

Co-administration of flu and COVID-19 vaccine 25/1/2021

Regarding the co-administration of the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, there is no evidence of any safety concerns, although it may make the attribution of any adverse events more difficult. Therefore, the green book advises that there should ideally be an interval of at least 7 days between the two to avoid incorrect attribution of potential adverse events. However, if this is not possible, then it is acceptable to give both together as the green book states that: “as both of the early COVID-19 vaccines are considered inactivated (including the non-replicating adenovirus vaccine), where individuals in an eligible cohort present having received another inactivated or live vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination should still be considered.” This is to avoid any further delay in protection and to avoid the risk of the patient not returning for a later appointment. 

Reminder calls following national COVID-19 vaccination booking letters being sent 25/1/2021

The national NHS Immunisation Management Service is starting to call people that have received letters to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments through 119 or www.nhs.uk, where they haven’t already booked an appointment. The number that people will see when receiving the call is 0300 561 0240.

The service will make it clear that if people have already had their first dose, they just need to wait for their local NHS services to contact them about the second dose. They will be clear that booking through 119 or www.nhs.uk is one option and they can wait to be contacted through their local GP services if they haven’t been already. The callers will remind people that they will not book people into appointments on the phone.

As always, the NHS will NEVER:

• ask people for their bank account or card details
• ask people for their pin or banking password
• ask people to prove their identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips

If anyone believes they are a victim of fraud or identify theft they should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. 

SWYPFT update on core services 25/1/2021

As we are now in the third wave of this pandemic SWYPFT thought it timely to provide an update about the trusts core services and the impact continued restrictions, increased patient flow to community and also increased acuity and dependency is having on their service offer

• SWYPFT continue to be at OPEL 3, this is the longest time the trusts’ system has been at this sustained level of pressure in the last 30 years. This means that some leave is cancelled for many staff.  The trust has stood down all non-essential meetings and training in line with their business continuity plans. Also this means at times, in some neighbourhoods that the trust may have only provided priority one visits, which are the most vulnerable patients at home. The trusts’ actions are shared on a daily basis at system meetings of Bronze and weekly at Silver and Gold with all partners including primary care contracting and the wider CCG
• SWYPFT continue to provide a comprehensive home visiting face to face service to approximately 3,300 patients just in the core services of district nursing, specialist palliative care and matrons, most nurses are going to provide acute care in the community with an average of 15-17 visits per day
• SWYPFT’s number of new referrals over November and December was 4,600 just into district nursing. Activity is up by at least 15% and the number of palliative care patient support is up by approximately 50%.
• In wave one as advised by NHSE, SWYPFT stood down all clinic based activity and gradually brought this back on stream during July and August and increased capacity again in September.  The Trust is currently running 45 clinics per month, 2 in each neighbourhood which equates to 25 hours per week. Providing 119 slots for non-housebound patients, the majority of which is taken up with complex wound care and some post op wound checks, suture and clip removal where capacity allows. The trust has approximately 12.5 % slot capacity left on average per month and with local negotiation can utilise these across the neighbourhoods however patients would need to be able to travel.  
• Clinics are only running at 50% capacity due to the stringent IPC guidance, furlough time between patients and cleaning etc. At this point in the pandemic the trust doesn’t have capacity to bring on and stream more clinics, to do this would entail having to decline new housebound referrals
• Wound care makes up a huge portion of the trust’s daily capacity.   Since April 2020 there has been approximately 2,300 complex wound dressings carried out and 800 post op wound checks and suture/clip removals
• SWYFPT’s recovery plans are reviewed on a weekly basis, however are pretty stagnant at this point due to winter and COVID pressures. The trust are delivering a mixed offer across all of their 42 service lines of face to face, telephonic and video consultation
• SWYFPT has during the pandemic supported the system including primary care and remained flexible in our approach and offer
  • Supported the mass testing in care homes in April & May
  • Picked up increased housebound patients due to shielding and other services not being able to bring patient into clinic settings
  • Supported the roll out of the EHCH offer with primary  care  
  • Provided Antigen testing for primary acre and social care
  • Supported the increase in the Intermediate care bed base
  • Rolled out discharge to assess as advised by the NHSE across 6 pathways
  • Expanded IV antibiotic therapy at home
  • Supported the set up and running of the Vaccination hubs
  • Supporting the role out of the vaccinations to housebound patients

SWYPFT ask that, as a team in Barnsley, we continue to work together in these times of extreme pressure, negotiate how the trust can manage the workloads as a team and continue to have good dialogue, where the trust are unable to meet an ask in a given timeframe, is where they may need your help sometimes.

We appreciate that primary care, as our colleagues and partners, are extremely busy too, I am sure together that we can work through what is for all of us a very stressful time. 

Booking at Local Mass vaccination Clinics 25/1/2021

Please note below some issues that have been raised by the local mass vaccination site staff:

• Patients sent to sites that needed best interest forms completing before attending for a Covid vaccine 
• Please note it is not necessary for patient to stop taking any anticoagulant medication before the Covid vaccination.

General Practice Awards 2020 – winners announced 21/1/2021

The winners of the General Practice Awards 2020 can be found here. Congratulations to the winners and for everyone who was shortlisted – you’ve all done amazing work this year and continue to do so.

Arrangements for returning GPs to support vaccine rollout 21/1/2021

NHSE are writing to their register of potential returning GP candidates, inviting them to express an interest to support PCNs in their vaccination efforts. NHSE provide the potential candidate with a named CCG or PCN contact in their local area to discuss if they can support vaccination within Primary Care. If a PCN decides to engage the returning GP, they should be contracted and on boarded in line with local employment processes.

Vaccinating frontline social care workers 21/1/2021

This letter on 14 January is further to the Operational Guidance: Vaccination of Frontline Health & Social Care Workers of 7 January 2021, which signalled the immediate requirement to vaccinate frontline social care workers.

In addition, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for frontline community-based social care workers provides a framework for local systems to identify the eligible cohort of care workers in JCVI priority group 2, and the arrangements that should be put in place to enable them to access their COVID-19 vaccination.

Position statement around use of the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca (AZ) to vaccinate housebound patients (13 Jan 2021) 21/1/2021

There have been queries around the movement of the AZ Vaccine once the vial has been punctured; NHSE have worked with the National Infection Prevention and Control team to agree a way forward that reduces the risk of microbiological contamination of the unpreserved AZ vaccine and therefore the risk of infection to patients. The following statement is our recommendation.

BBS IT Services Newsletter - January / Issue 7 21/1/2021

Please see attached (3) the BBS IT Services Newsletter for your information. 

Single point of access  21/1/2021

Please find below new single point of access details for the Community Paediatrics and Autism Assessment Service. These details are to replace any contact details currently held. 

Community Paediatrics and Autism Assessment Service (Based at New Street)

Single point of access number:  (01226) 644 876

(Community Paediatrics)             Barnsley.communuitypaediatrics1@nhs.net       

(Autism Assessment Service)     Barnsley.asdat@nhs.net              

Working Win - 2 weeks to refer 21/1/2021

The Working Win programme is open for referrals until 31 January 2021.  The extended service will support people who are absent from work due to ill health or in-work and struggling. This includes people with health conditions who might be at risk of redundancy due to Covid-19 or otherwise struggling to remain in employment at the current time. The Working Win team will provide  1:1 practical advice and support to help people manage their health conditions at work, to manage debt and maximise income and to seek alternative employment, where required.  Working Win is no longer a randomised trial, meaning all participants can access support.

You may have patients/clients who would benefit from support. Please refer them to the programme or share information with them to encourage self-referral.  Referrals can be made online via www.workingwinreferrals.co.uk, workingwin@syha.cjsm.net, call 0114 2900 218 or share our e-leaflet with your patients/clients, please see attachments (2).

Resources - Personalised Care Institute 21/1/2021

There are a number of helpful resources on the Personalised Care Institute website. Staff and teams involved in rolling out personalised care for people affected by cancer may wish to start with the curriculum. Resources include training modules and guidance on things such as personalised care and support planning, and signposting to modules offered by Health Education England and other training providers on communication skills, motivational interviewing etc. These resources help to ensure people understand what all the components of personalised care are, and learn how to deliver consistent high quality personalised care to people affected by cancer.

Men Utd 2021 Poster 21/1/2021

Men Utd New Year poster for information and displaying within your practice is available from the primary care team. 

Reminder of PCR swab testing service in general practice  18/1/2021

In November, NHS Test and Trace rolled out a new service making COVID-19 PCR swab testing capability available to all general practices in England on a voluntary, opt in basis. Since then, over 3,300 practices have registered to use the service with over 185,000 test kits ordered.

If GP practices have not signed up to the service yet, they can still do so via ordering test kits page, using the unique organisation number (UON) that NHS Test and Trace sent directly to practices on 4 November. If practices are unsure of their UON they can search for it on the lookup page or phone 119.

Although complementary to current testing routes, these tests can be offered to patients who present with COVID-19 symptoms in general practice settings, to streamline patient care and increase access to testing for patients who would otherwise be unlikely to get a test via the primary testing routes. For example, due to barriers around language, disability or digital inclusion. Practices can use their discretion to offer the swabs where they deem it to be clinically appropriate.

These tests are also be available for symptomatic GPs, practice staff and their symptomatic household members to support General Practice settings to remain operational.

More information, including how it works can be found on the gov.uk page. Dr Mike Holmes, General Practitioner in Yorkshire and Clinical Advisor for GP testing in NHS Test and Trace, has also written a blog to talk about his perspective of the new service and to thank his colleagues.

Establishing COVID Virtual Wards  18/1/2021 

All local areas are advised to pursue immediate national roll out of a COVID ‘virtual ward’ model as an option for earlier safe and supported discharge. The COVID Virtual Ward standard operating procedure and letter to commissioners and providers has been published and designed for moderate risk patients requiring more support, for example, people requiring regular monitoring, dexamethasone and/or potentially home oxygen. Practical guidance is available including a national learning network and implementation support from local Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs). ​

Long COVID services  18/1/2021

There are 69 Long COVID assessment services across the country, taking referrals from GPs for people experiencing long COVID symptoms. Details of leads for post-COVID services in each region are available on the Primary Care Future NHS site, along with information on referring patients to the Your COVID Recovery online platform. Please contact your regional lead for further information on long COVID patient pathways in your area.

To best equip clinicians to help patients with post-COVID syndrome, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have produced tips on the management of long-term effects of Covid-19 and Health Education England (HEE) have set-up e-learning modules on Covid-19 recovery and rehabilitation. 

Access to National Workforce Supply Routes for PCN Groupings delivering the COVID-19 vaccine  18/1/2021

NHSE&I have published guidance for PCN Groupings regarding access to and on boarding of additional workforce and volunteer supply from the National Workforce Supply Routes. PCN groupings can access clinical and non-clinical workers and volunteers from organisations such as St. John Ambulance, NHS Volunteer Responders (delivered by Royal Voluntary Service) and NHS Professionals via local engagement and arrangements with Lead Employers in order to support the vaccination programme. 

Lateral flow test orders  18/1/2021

Organisations are reminded that, where they haven’t yet done so, lateral flow kits can be ordered for patient-facing staff.  One box of kits should be ordered for each member of staff.  For example, if there are 10 patient-facing members of staff delivering NHS services within an organisation, the order should be for only 10 boxes of test kits – as one box contains 25 tests and it is enough for a member of staff to test for 12 weeks. To place an order, contractors should log onto the portal and complete their order as soon as possible, and by COP Sunday 17 January to start to receive deliveries from the following week.

Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by 19 January for all organisations which placed an order before the initial deadline of 30 December. We will look to arrange deliveries for all subsequent orders as soon as possible after they have been placed.

A reminder that reporting results (positive, negative or void) is a statutory requirement. Staff should report the results of their tests as soon as possible on the NHS Digital platform.

Huge push on remaining 80+ patients for COVID 19 vaccination  18/1/2021

This week we need to have a huge push to book as many of the remaining (non-housebound) 80+ year old patients as possible into the local vaccination sites.

This is still the priority group and we need as much of the vaccine supplies into Barnsley to be going to this age group.  You will start to see that those in this age group, who are still waiting to be booked in, will start to receive letters from the large scale venues – this is because they haven’t been booked in locally. Ideally we would like to get as many people booked in locally as possible and to avoid confusion when they receive this letter.

Please note that last Thursday, due to the snow, the team were able to offer the vaccination to some people without an appointment who were able to get to sites. Clearly this was an absolute exception to ensure there was no wastage and the advice to the general public will still be, please wait to be contacted. We’ll continue to promote that.

We also know that practices are being approached by independent health and care providers (podiatrists, chiropodists, etc) regarding them receiving the vaccine. Please can practices let Janine Quate (janine.quate@nhs.net) in the first instance if you have details of any such organisations that contact you. We are currently working through how we call these people in and will update you as soon as we can on the procedure.

A huge thank you for everyone’s continued efforts for getting people booked in, particularly last week with the snow. There continues to be lots of positive feedback.

Establishment of COVID virtual wards using pulse oximetry 14/1/2021

Given current pressures, all local areas should pursue immediate national roll out of a COVID ‘virtual ward’ model for earlier safe and supported discharge if this model is not in place already. A clinical and operational model has been developed based on emerging good practice. Lower risk patients may be appropriate for earlier discharge onto COVID Oximetry@home. Moderate risk patients requiring more support (e.g. regular monitoring, dexamethasone, potentially home oxygen) may be appropriate for earlier discharge onto a COVID virtual ward. Implementation should be led by local ICS and implemented by the most appropriate local providers whether acute (most likely) or community. ​

NHS England and Improvement has purchased a limited supply of pulse oximeters which are available to CCGs and Trusts free of charge. To request oximeters or for further information please contact england.home@nhs.net

A webinar for acute trust medical and nursing directors, as well as CCG and ICS colleagues with more information on the COVID virtual ward model will take place on Wednesday 13 January 3pm - 4pm. A recording will be made available for those unable to attend.

Closing Thursday: Snapshot Wellbeing Survey of the Primary Care Workforce 14/1/2021

This short survey will be used to assess the current wellbeing of the primary care workforce. The survey will ask you to reflect on your personal wellbeing as well as the functioning of your team.

Further release of primary care capacity 14/1/2021

In a letter published 7 January by NHSE,  they confirmed the approach to release primary care capacity to support COVID vaccination and the ongoing pandemic response. Practices are reminded that the cervical screening indicators in QOF will continue to be paid on a performance basis and are not subject to the extended income protection arrangements. 

Diabetes UK update - Info on coronavirus vaccine, diabetes care during coronavirus and preparing for remote appointments 14/1/2021

Please find the attached (4) update from Diabetes UK. 

Pathway to Partnership: New Partner Development Programme Update 14/1/2021

Due to the increased challenges in primary care with increasing covid cases and now the implementation of the covid vaccine programme, we have decided to postpone the start of the programme to April 2021.  

We now have 70% of places filled on the course and are seeing increased interest as new partners reflect on the challenges of 2020 and look to develop their own and their practice’s ability to lead sustainable and successful practices into 2021 and beyond. Many are saying this is something positive to focus on after an incredibly difficult year. 

Please see full details below:  

The Qualitas Pathway to Partnership development programme is for new and prospective partners in GP practices looking to accelerate their professional development and help their practice thrive and succeed.   

2020 has been a hugely challenging year for general practice and has highlighted the need for partners to be able to confidently lead through the uncertainty whilst building sustainable practices for the future.  

The Qualitas Pathway to Partnership programme looks to accelerate the professional development of new partners, providing the opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge, develop a network of colleagues across the country and learn from successful GPs and practices alongside business, accountancy, innovation and leadership experts. This comprehensive programme will position individuals and their practices to achieve the best outcomes.  

Accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, our programme allows you to accumulate 60 CPD points and is structured around three key pillars – Leadership, Strategy and Operations.    

Starting in April 2021 (delayed from January due to increasing covid rates and roll out of covid vaccination programme), this is a 12-month programme spread over 6 full day face-to-face sessions, 8 peer-group virtual sessions and real exercises completed with your practice. All sessions will be delivered virtually initially due to covid but with the intention of face to face later in 2021 to enable improved collaboration and networking.   

Diabetes Bulletin 14/1/2021

Please see attached (3) the latest Diabetes Bulletin for your information. 

My Best Life Updated Contact Information 14/1/2021

Please see attached (1) the My Best Life leaflet with updated information and contact details. 

Vaccination Centre Appointments – Communication for patients 14/1/2021

Please can all practices remind their patients and relay the below communication: 

Please can we ask that you do not arrive early for your appointment. Please arrive for your appointment time . Stay safe in your car until it is time for your appointment as the clinics are appointment only. We are trying to maintain social distancing and manage clinics safely. It is also cold at some sites at the moment so we are advising patients to wrap up and bring something to keep them warm.  

If you have a relative who needs help with mobility please alert one of the staff and we will help support them and navigate them through the clinic. Many thanks for your cooperation at this time.

Contractors who have not yet ordered lateral flow tests  11/1/2021

The majority of primary care contractors have now ordered lateral flow tests for their patient-facing staff on the online portal, as set out in direct communication by Primary Care Support England (PCSE), who are managing the ordering and delivery process.

Deliveries to contractors who had ordered by 30 December have already started and will continue in the coming days and weeks.

However, there are still primary care contractors who have not completed their order. If contractors (medical, dental, optometry and community pharmacy) have not yet placed their order, it is important that they log onto the portal and complete their order as soon as possible, and by COP Sunday 17 January to start to receive deliveries from the following week.

Contractors will have received direct communications from PCSE to the registered email address who normally manages the business as usual supplies orders with PCSE. Contractors should ensure that they have checked these emails and that they avoid any duplicate orders.

Each organisation should order one box for each patient-facing member of staff, for example if there are 10 patient-facing members of staff delivering NHS services within an organisation, the order should be for only 10 boxes of test kits – as one box contains 25 tests and it is enough for a member of staff to test for 12 weeks.

SOPs and FAQs on lateral flow testing in primary care are available for further information.

National flu vaccination programme update  11/1/2021

Thank you for the work you continue to do in general practices and community pharmacies in vaccinating eligible groups for flu. The programme is continuing, so please offer vaccinations over the coming weeks to all eligible adults and children who have yet to be vaccinated.

The national call and recall system for the flu vaccination programme is this week writing to 50 to 64 year olds (not in at risk groups) who have not yet had their vaccination, in order to help achieve as high uptake in this cohort as possible. There is still some vaccine available for community pharmacies to order for this group – information on this is available in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stock guidance for pharmacies. If you are a general practice and have run out, please check with your local system for anyone who has spare vaccine before ordering, but there is still vaccine available from both Seqirus and Sanofi if required. To order please refer to the DHSC guidance for practices.

In addition, phone calls are continuing to those in at risk groups who have been sent a letter but have not yet taken up their vaccination. As a result, some individuals may receive a call from the NHS Immunisation Management Service on 0300 561 0230. 

Supporting physical health-checks for people with Severe Mental Illness  11/1/2021

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to increasing the number of people with a Severe Mental Illness receiving a comprehensive physical health-check over the next three years to 390,000 people in 2023/24. We have worked with NHS Digital to establish a General Practice Extract Service (GPES) to robustly and accurately monitor delivery against this ambition. In November, General Practices were sent an invitation via the Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) to accept this invitation. We are asking GP practices to accept this extract to ensure robust data quality.

If practices have any technical questions regarding this collection, they can contact primarycare.domain@nhs.net. Queries regarding CQRS participation should be sent directly to support@cqrs.co.uk. 

DrinkCoach 11/1/2021

Barnsley Council Public Health has partnered with DrinkCoach to commission a new digital platform with access to free online appointments to help residents cut down their drinking. DrinkCoach allows people to assess how risky their drinking is and receive personalised advice online. The website also directs residents towards the most appropriate local service, including connecting via video call to a DrinkCoach alcohol specialist.

The DrinkCoach package offers:

The Alcohol Test:  This allows residents to assess how risky their drinking is via a 2-min Alcohol Test; it’s free, quick and confidential. They can also receive personalised advice and information about local support options in Barnsley. DrinkCoach Alcohol Test   

Free DrinkCoach App: This allows people to track their units, calories and cost and set goals to reduce. Available on iOS and Android: https://drinkcoach.org.uk/drinkcoach-app-folder-only  

DrinkCoach Online Coaching Service: Barnsley residents are eligible for up to 6 free online coaching sessions with an alcohol specialist. Sessions are available 7 days a week with daytime, evening and weekend appointments available. Rsidents can choose their preferred timeslot, no waiting lists or travel time. Connection is via video call and receive support to cut down your drinking. Take the Barnsley Alcohol Test to find out if you would benefit from cutting down with DrinkCoach: https://drinkcoach.org.uk/barnsley-alcohol-test 

Please see attached further details and posters (attachments 2a, 2b, 2c) 

Individual assessment to assist in the creation of a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) for the administration of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine  7/1/2021

This Patient Safety Directive Document (PSD) is a key document to support the delivery and administration of the AZ vaccine from 4 January 2021. This document has been developed alongside PHE colleagues to ensure it is consistent with the guidance and is for all sites where the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is being delivered and administered. Please note and use the PSD to be able to deliver the vaccine. 

Updated Patient Group Direction for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) 7/1/2021

This Patient Group Direction (PGD) is for the administration of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 30microgams in 0.3ml to individuals in accordance with the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. It was first published on 11 December 2020 and was updated 5 January 2021. 

The introduction of the new Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine 7/1/2021

This week the use of the new Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine began. Another great step forward in protecting our communities from COVID-19. Local vaccination services will begin vaccinating patients with this new vaccine according to supply and NHSE again want to thank you for resilience and adaptability to such a fast-moving programme. Currently the Oxford/AstraZeneca will be delivered through the designated sites. 

In response to recent changes the Standard operating procedure: COVID-19 local vaccination services deployment in community settings has been updated. 

2021 GP Patient survey 7/1/2021

The 2021 GP Patient survey is now live. Please help to promote it by displaying a downloadable poster or sharing it on social media. Last year, almost 740,000 people gave feedback on around 6,800 GP practices across England. It is a key source of information about the performance of GP practices and CCGs. Due to changes made as a result of COVID-19, it is more important than ever that we hear about experiences of using local GP and health services.

For more information or to request social media resources please contact: england.insight-queries@nhs.net

Supporting Smokers to Quit: A Digital Solution 7/1/2021

The tobacco control and smoking cessation field are concerned that the need to tackle smoking is getting left behind while the pressing issues of the pandemic are being addressed.

However, smoking related illness remains a threat to public health, and the Smoke Free app team would like to offer support to your primary care services.

Working together, we can save GP practices time and money, while benefiting patients who need to stop smoking.  Please see attached (3) for further information.

New South Yorkshire website resource for parents and families  7/1/2021

A new locally developed website is now available for clinicians and health and care staff seeing children and young people. You can signpost patients’ parents and families to accurate, quality, local health information to help them manage their health/symptoms and know when to access health services.

The Healthier Together site is now available and you can signpost your patients to it here: 

https://sybhealthiertogether.nhs.uk/ 

Who is providing the content?

With content provided by clinicians and health and care professionals from South Yorkshire, the Healthier Together website will provide consistent, clinically-led advice and guidance for parents and families in Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Is the information accessible?

Yes. The website features ‘Browse Aloud’ which has a number of functions including translation, a read-aloud function, screen masks and word to picture translations for example. 

Why launch this now?

The project has been in development since before the pandemic, however intensive effort has been put into ensuring the key pages could be launched to help health and care professionals to manage the bronchiolitis season which adds extra pressure into the health system each year. The site is still under development and when it is completed it will also be a helpful tool for pregnant women, and young people themselves.

Led by the Children’s Hosted Network and Local Maternity System within the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System, the site builds on the successful ‘0-18 Healthier Together website’ in Hampshire.

If you have any questions or would like to share your feedback please contact sheffieldccg.sybhealthiertogether@nhs.net

South Yorkshire MTU Deployment Schedule  7/1/2021

The latest MTU deployment information for 4^th – 10^th January 2021 is available from the primary care team. 

COVID-19 vaccinations and participation in research and surveillance studies  4/1/2021

Patients participating in research and surveillance studies should not be prevented from receiving the COVID vaccine if they are eligible. These studies do involve regular asymptomatic testing for COVID-19, so if a study participant is awaiting a result from such a test they can still be vaccinated and should not be told to wait until the result comes back. These studies will be used to support vaccine surveillance in the UK and as such it is vital that participants can access the vaccine the same as anyone else. 

A list of the main COVID-19 surveillance studies is available on the Department of Health and Social Care website.

Home delivery of medicines and appliances during the COVID-19 outbreak  4/1/2021

Following government’s announcement of further Tier 4 arrangements on 23 December 2020, the Community Pharmacy Home Delivery Service and the Dispensing Doctor Home Delivery Service will be commissioned from 26 December 2020 to 18 January 2021 for clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) patients living in the particular Tier 4 areas. 

Cessation of Lloyd George Envelopes for babies, new patients and first entrants to NHS  4/1/2021

As part of the Lloyd George digitisation programme, the production and distribution of Lloyd George envelopes for new patients, registrations of babies and first entrants to the NHS, will cease from 31 December 2020. The digitisation programme will reduce the burden associated with the movement of paper records. Practices will no longer receive transit labels to move patients' records when they leave a practice but, may still be able to order Lloyd George envelope via Primary Care Support England (PCSE) Online for records that cannot be scanned.

PCSE will be writing to GPs about the process. For further information, practices can contact PCSE Customer Support Centre. 

Asymptomatic staff testing using lateral flow devices in Primary Care 4/1/2021

The roll out of asymptomatic staff testing is now including primary care staff and there is a FAQ and SOP to support with this ( links below). The expectation is most primary care providers will have placed orders for lateral flow devices by the end of December to enable deliveries to commence in early January – so please take action ASAP if you have not placed an order (Please see below for further information on ordering). 

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C0964_LFT-in-primary-care-FAQs-18-Dec.pdf    

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C0957_Primary-care-lateral-flow-test-SOP.pdf      

The links above detail the ordering and reporting arrangements for Primary Care Contractors – these differ to the arrangements for NHS trusts. Further detail is provided below. 

The complexity of primary care provision has been recognised and as such arrangements are as follows: 

1. GP practices  offering in hours care

GP Practices should order sufficient lateral flow devices for all their patient facing staff via the PCSE portal – we would ask practices to include sufficient numbers to be able to provide supplies to locum and temporary staff who provide services for them

2. Out of hours providers who have links to either NHS trusts or GP practices/federations

 They should order sufficient lateral flow devices to ensure patient facing staff who would not be covered by their usual working place provision and should include adequate provision for any staff who hold temporary or locum roles including GPs and nurses who do not undertake in hours roles

Practices/ federations – order lateral flow devices through PCSE portal

NHS trusts – order lateral flow devices via england.covid-lfd@nhs.net and explicitly advise that it is for primary care provision

3. Out of Hours Providers who are in the independent sector

We have been advised that there will be an imminent data collection to identify all independent sector provision of NHS care to ensure roll out of lateral flow device (LFD) supplies occurs there.  Please can out of hours providers who are in the independent sector advise england.neytesting@nhs.net so we can include in the roll out 

4. Out of hours providers who are Community Interest Companies (CICs)

Some CICs may have already been included in the roll out of lateral flow devices. If any CICs have not been included – can CICs  please advise england.neytesting@nhs.net    so we can include in the independent sector cohort. 

5. Any other primary care patient facing services not covered by the above

Administration and vaccinator support for Covid Vaccine Clinics January  4/1/2021

The pace of the vaccine clinics has picked up and BHF have additional  clinics for January.   If you are able to offer any time to help out with vaccinations at these clinics BHF would be most grateful. The clinics will be running at 2 sites Dodworth and Goldthorpe on the following dates:

Thursday 7 Jan        9am to 8pm

Friday 8 Jan             9am to 8pm

Saturday 9 Jan        9am to 6pm

Monday 11 Jan        2pm to 8pm

Tuesday 12             9am to 8pm

Wednesday 13        9am to 8pm

Thursday 14            9am to 2pm

Any offer of help would be greatly appreciated, even if only for a few hours.  Please contact Michelle Thompson at michelle.thompson26@nhs.net and thank you for your continued help and support

Flu vaccination messaging resources available  16/11/2020

To help answer questions you may be getting on flu vaccine availability, Public Health England has created a new two page leaflet. It explains there is enough vaccine available for all eligible groups and why, if a person is eligible, they may be asked to wait for their vaccine. Assets to support the flu vaccination campaign are still available to download on the Campaign Resource Centre. 

Flu vaccines for general practice staff  16/11/2020

When arranging flu vaccines for general practice staff, please remember to include all the primary care network (PCN) DES-funded additional roles, including social prescribing link workers. It is the PCN’s responsibility to ensure that this happens whether or not they are directly employed or hosted by an external organisation. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme 2020/21  16/11/2020

Due to an error, the site designation form has been updated and is now available on our website. PCN groupings will need to submit this form to the CCG no later than Tuesday 17 November with the details of the site (or sites) initially being nominated for designation and the names and contact details of all of the practices collaborating within the PCN (and with other local non-PCN member practices or PCNs as Classification: Official Publication approval reference: 001559 appropriate) who have agreed that the nominated site will be used to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to their patient population under the Enhanced Service.

Barnsley and Rotherham Integrated Laboratory Services (BRILS) - change to HbA1c instrumentation 16/11/2020

Please see attached letter from BRILS (attachment 2) regarding change to HbA1c instrumentation.

BBS IT Services Newsletter - November / Issue 5  16/11/2020

Welcome to the fifth edition (attachment 1) of the BBS IT Services (Barnsley, Bassetlaw & Sheffield) newsletter.

This month’s newsletter covers the usual Clinical System Updates,

Changes to FIT test for Low and High Risk Patients – Phased from 1 September 2020 – to be returned to Practices and not posted 12/11/2020

The way patients Lower GI FIT tests are managed and transported to mirror existing pathology processes is being changed.

There will be a change to how patients return their FIT kit; they will no longer post samples back but instead will be asked to return back to their GP practice. 

This change will take place over a phased period and will depend on the existing number of kits in stock in practices.  Please be aware of the new instructions in the kits when giving out to patients and instruct them accordingly i.e. to either post FIT test back or return to the practice. 

This is until all the FIT kits with pre-paid envelopes have been depleted. However kits can be put in the local pathology collection from 1 September 2020, even if the instructions say to post and the patient returns to the practice. 

The kit will be booked in at the local pathology lab and sent to the Sheffield Lab for analysis as per before . Results will be sent to the practices through the usual route. A flow chart showing the new route is attached. (attachment 4) 

This change in process is partly due to a significant increase in postal costs but more importantly uses existing arrangements for samples/tests and results.

Please note there is no limit to how many kits a surgery can order at any one time but if a surgery is down to their re-order limit then they should always be able to re-order.  The stock level for each surgery was determined according to the size of the patient list >50 years.   The re-order estimate was to prevent over stocking/waste and potentially going beyond expiry for the kits. 

Diabetes UK update  9/11/2020

#All Together for World Diabetes Day and Supporting People with Diabetes - British Muslim Heritage Centre's community engagement webinar 

Please find attached update (attachments 5a and 5b) from DUK that may be of interest. 

Suspension of the need for signatures on prescriptions, dental and ophthalmic forms  9/11/2020

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has approved a temporary measure in England to help limit the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) by suspending the need for patients to sign prescription, dental and ophthalmic forms for a period of 5 months to 31 March 2021. This is to avoid cross contamination and help minimise the handling of paperwork when collecting medicines or receiving dental and eye care. Patients will still be required to either pay the relevant charge or prove their eligibility for an exemption from charges. Further details and processes to follow is set out on the DHSC website. 

BRILS Blood Sciences: Change to Urine Protein method   9/11/2020

The Blood Sciences department will be moving onto a new Urine Protein method on 11/11/2020 as the current method is being discontinued. The new method has shown a significant shift in results for very low urine protein concentrations and, consequently, a large positive shift in protein : creatinine ratio (PCR) results in those samples.   

See attached letter from Barnsley & Rotherham Integrated Laboratory Services (BRILS) (attachment 4). 

Therefore, we have decided that we will only report PCR on samples with a urine protein of 0.3 g/L or greater ( ≥ 1+ on Siemens Multistix urine dipstick).

Please be aware that samples with urine protein results less than 1.0 g/L may still see a positive shift in calculated PCR by 10 – 30%. 

In patients with either Trace or 1+ protein in their urine on dipstick analysis, please request both an albumin : creatinine ratio (ACR) and PCR, as ACR is more sensitive at lower urine protein levels. Alternatively, consider measuring 24-hour urine protein.

Please contact Cat Dibden, Consultant Biochemist, via e-mail Catherine.dibden@nhs.net  if you have any queries about this change. 

Management of unexpected deaths in the community when attended by Ambulance Service 9/11/2020

There are no changes: in the MCCD process or any changes in how GPs manage unexpected death or legal requirements on reporting deaths to the Coroner

The Change will be in how GPs will be notified when one of their patients has died in the community, and their role in completing the MCCD or referring to the Coroner. 

From Monday 23 November 2020 South Yorkshire Police will no longer attend scenes of routine presumed natural deaths in the care home setting or private residential premises as is current practice when the ambulance service verify life extinct.

The new process is when Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) attends an unexpected death; they will now contact the police control room directly, the police will triage the incident over the phone and will only attend if it an unnatural death or if any suspicious factors are evident. All other deaths will be recorded and then closed down by the police control and will not be passed to the Coroner.

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service clinician on scene will be required to inform the patient’s own GP directly in hours or via 111 in the out of hours period which will allow the patient’s own GP to consider completing a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). 

If the GP is not able to provide a MCCD then the usual referral should be made by the GP to the Coroner’s Office directly. There is no expectation that a home visit is required. 

Attached is also a letter from YAS that explains this change. (attachment 3) 

Barnsley Hospital Phlebotomy Outpatients relocates to Cudworth  9/11/2020

On Monday 9 November the Barnsley Hospital Phlebotomy Outpatients Department relocated to The Cudworth Centre, Carlton Street, Cudworth, Barnsley, S72 8SU. Contact numbers will remain the same. 

This move improves their ability to support Government social distancing guidance to protect our vulnerable patients who require vital blood tests. 

The new location, not only has more available car parking, but will also allow the service to increase capacity which will help reduce waiting times for patients. 

The Phlebotomy Outpatients service will continue to be an appointment based system for adult patients. 

Patients with an existing appointment do not need to rebook as their appointment will automatically transfer to the new location. They will have been contacted by letter or SMS with an instruction to attend The Cudworth Centre rather than the Roundhouse. 

Patients under the age of 16 who require a blood test are to continue to contact the Paediatric Outpatient Department on (01226) 434966 or (01226) 435205

Hopefully, this will be a temporary move as we recognise the location is not ideal for all our patients. We continue to explore options for a more centralised location.

Information for referrals

Clinical staff are advised that any patients who require blood tests at the Phlebotomy Outpatients Department will now need to ensure they put a request on the Barnsley ICE system. Alternatively, clinicians may provide patients with a completed paper request form so the patient can contact the Phlebotomy department on 01226 433963 to make an appointment.

An appointment will not be made for the patient unless they have a completed paper request form or there is an order on the ICE system for them. This line is very busy but please advise patients not to try to contact the department on any other number.

Patients will need to book an appointment in plenty of time of needing the results as there is currently high demand for the service and waiting times are currently in excess of 2 weeks. There are very limited urgent appointments each day and these are kept strictly for chemo patients and any patient with a genuine urgent need for results.

Laptops/Surface Pro’s in general practice - not in use  9/11/2020

The Primary Care Team understand that there are a number of Laptops/Surface Pro’s in general practice that may not be in use, or used on a regular basis. 

If this applies to any practices, it would be really useful if you could let the Primary Care Team know in order that they could be re-distributed to a practice(s) on a temporary basis in the event of a COVD-19 outbreak to enable any staff having to isolate to continue to work from home. 

Workforce spreadsheet – please use revised v3 9/11/2020

Practices please note that the Primary Care Team have added three extra columns to the Workforce sheet: 

• Positive Test? Y/N
• staff 'contacts' identified & SI
• PHE (HPT) and CCG informed? 

Please can practices use the revised Workforce spreadsheet v3 attached (attachment 2).  If you have already submitted your workforce spreadsheet this week there is no need to resubmit, however we would appreciate it if you could start to use the revised version for your next submission.

DUK Update - Life Beyond Diabetes, Type 1 and Tech 2020, Cheque for Tech and #NailingDiabetes 5/11/2020

Please see attached (1) update from Diabetes UK.

Flu vaccinations for carers and people with a learning disability 5/11/2020

Two short films have been produced on flu vaccinations. The first is for carers of people with a learning disability about the importance of vaccinating themselves and the people they care for. The second is about vaccinating people with a learning disability and autistic people with certain health conditions. Both cover why it is important, who is eligible for a free vaccine, where you can get the vaccine and reasonable adjustments. 

Update: flu vaccination for 2-3 year olds and over 65s  5/11/2020

We wrote at the end of September to the parents/guardians of all children aged 2-3 years inviting them to have their child vaccinated against flu. 

While the influenza uptake for 2-3 year olds is the highest it has ever been at this point in the season we are now contacting those parents/guardians that have not yet taken the opportunity to have their child vaccinated so that we can increase understanding of the reasons why and to encourage uptake. As a result, some parents/guardians may receive a call from the number 0300 561 0230 and will be announced as the NHS Immunisation Management Service. 

Please note many four-year olds will fall into the category of being three years old before 31 August 2020 but having had a birthday since.   

Letters will also be going out shortly to those 65 and over reminding them to book their flu vaccination appointment.

Additional queries can be found on the NHSE website. 

Covid Swab Testing available to General Practice 5/11/2020

NHS Test and Trace is making Covid swab testing available to general practices in England. The service will be available to all practices on a voluntary, opt in basis and swabs are intended to be self-administered. This will be a supplementary option for practices and does not replace any of the existing routes to access testing. Members of the public will continue to be directed to regional testing centres or home testing kits in the first instance. 

These tests can be offered to patients who present with Covid symptoms in general practice settings, to streamline patient care and increase access to testing for patients who would otherwise be unlikely to get a test via the primary testing routes. For example, due to barriers around language, disability or digital inclusion. Practices can use their discretion to offer the swabs where they deem it to be clinically appropriate. 

Following requests from GPs to have increased access to testing, these tests will also be available for symptomatic GPs, practice staff and their symptomatic household members to support general practice settings remaining operational. Test results for anyone using these swabs will be sent to patients and flow into GP records, in the same manner as other pillar 2 test results.

All practices will shortly receive further information via email and an invitation to attend webinars to learn more about the service and how to opt in. 

South Yorkshire MTU deployments 5/11/2020

Please see latest MTU deployment information attached (4) for information. 

Barnsley Phlebotomy Outpatients Relocation 5/11/2020

We have been informally advised that from Monday 9 November 2020, the phlebotomy outpatients department at Barnsley Hospital will be moving from their current location at the Roundhouse Centre, Wakefield Road, Athersley, S71 1TH and relocating to Cudworth. We are anticipating further communications to be shared regarding this shortly.

i-HEART Home Visiting 5/11/2020

Please see below information which was sent out yesterday with updates on the home visiting service provided by i-HEART. 

The Hot Clinic will remain at 8 hours a day between 1400 - 2200 and is funded under the i-HEART Extended Hours contract. ​We have had 2 days where we had small capacity issues but this was due to an abdunance of home visits that came through in the early evening which overwhelmed our home visiting staff meaning the GP had to leave the blue clinic to complete home visits.  

Due to these 2 instances of capacity issues, we have reconfigured our home visiting team which will increase our capacity to do hot and cold home visits by around 25%. With this in mind, we want to support all the practices and the patients of Barnsley. We have decided that we will trial extending cold home visit referrals until 1600 or until we reach capacity. Ideally we would appreciate it if any requests for home visits on ?COVID patients be sent in before that time but we understand that it is not always feasible and thus we will always try to do hot home visits irrespective of what time they come in so long as we have capacity.  

Please can you all share with your clinical staff that we are here and will do our best to support them and the most vulnerable patients.  

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  2/11/2020

Please find attached the MTU deployments for South Yorkshire 

Interim External Evaluation of the Specialist Care Home ANP role - Sees Improved Care for Residents  2/11/2020

An interim external evaluation of the Specialist Care Home ANP role project has been completed. This focused on the outcomes for residents of care homes in Barnsley’s South and Central neighbourhoods between 1 March 2019 and 29 February 2020.

It found that, with Katie’s input:

• 95% of the residents supported, died in their preferred place of care
• 88% of the residents had an emergency care plan created to support decision making in and out of hours
• the specialist knowledge that Katie brings was shown to increase the confidence of care home staff when caring for residents with palliative care needs and provide reassurance and comfort to residents and their families.
• Attached is a poster outlining the benefits. (attachment 3) 

This specialist practitioner post is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and hosted by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as a 3-year project. The post is occupied by former Macmillan Nurse and end of life practice educator Katie Yockney. Working closely with local care homes, neighbourhood teams, GPs and hospital colleagues, she offers help to develop personalised care plans for care home residents. These plans help to support care home staff and other health care professionals to meet a person’s preferences and wishes at the end of their lives. 

Working Win - referrals extended  2/11/220

Working Win – the South Yorkshire support service helping people with mild or moderate mental health conditions and or physical health conditions to stay in work - has been extended and is taking referrals from 1 November 2020.  

The extended service* will support people who are absent from work due to ill health or in-work and struggling. This includes people with health conditions who might be at risk of redundancy due to Covid-19 or otherwise struggling to remain in employment at the current time. The Working Win team will provide practical advice and support to help people manage their health conditions at work, to manage debt and maximise income and to seek alternative employment, where required.  

The main referral method will be online via the www.workingwinreferrals.co.uk website, which will re-open on 1 November.  Telephone referrals can be made on 0114 2900 218, Mon – Fri during office hours. Due to the short referral window (3-months), the Systm1/EMIS referral route will not be operational during the extension, though practices may continue to use the secure inbox: workingwin@syha.cjsm.net  

If your practice would like to use your text messaging service to contact appropriate patients on your list, please contact Mushrat Javaid at m.javaid@syha.co.uk or 07384 510100 who will discuss the support package which is available.  Also please do consider using the attached flyers to support electronic fit notes (attachments 2a and 2b). 

Referrals will open on 1 November 2020 and close on 31 January 2021 however the service will continue until 31 March 2021.  

*The service delivered in this period is not part of the randomised control trial. All eligible participants can receive the service, subject to capacity, and there is not a control group to which people are randomly assigned.  

BHF Home Visiting Service - Additional capacity  2/11/2020

Please continue to utilise the Home Visiting Service where appropriate.  Additional capacity has been put in place for primary care clinicians to utilise. Please refer as normal. 

Low Calorie Diet for Type 2 Diabetes patients is available now  29/10/2020

From 1 September practices can now refer eligible Barnsley patients to the NHSE Low Calorie Diet Pilot which is intended to help them lose weight and place their Type 2 diabetes in to remission. (see attachments 1a, 1b, 1c) 

Based on clinical trials (including the DIRECT study), the 12 month programme has an initial 12 week Total Diet Replacement (TDR) stage (using shakes, soups and meals), followed by gradual food re-introduction and maintenance phases and will be offered to up to 500 patients across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. The cost of the TDR stage is being covered by NHSE. The programme is being delivered by Reed Wellbeing, who currently deliver the Diabetes Prevention Programme. 

As we are a small pilot site, referrals need to be managed closely across SYB.  Please contact sarah.clarke85@nhs.net or faye.senior@nhs.net for more information.

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  29/10/2020

Attached is information about South Yorkshire MTU deployments. 

BSACI Allergy Care Plans  29/10/2020

Due to a change in Barnsley Council’s policy and planning, the school nurses will no longer be writing the anaphylaxis care plans for children who have rescue medication for their allergies. This responsibility now lies with the medical practitioner who is prescribing the medication. In the instance where the child no longer routinely attends allergy clinic and the medication is prescribed by the GP, he/she is the one who should complete the BSACI care plan.

The BSACI  documentation is available online at https://www.bsaci.org/professional-resources/resources/paediatric-allergy-action-plans/

There are 3 types:

• Personal plan for individuals prescribed EpiPen
• Personal plan for individuals prescribed Jext
• A generic plan for individuals assessed as not needing AAI

 

NHS Volunteer Responders: NHS non-clinical support role   26/10/2020

NHSE/I have informed us of an important update to the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme.

Following a number of requests from NHS organisations, NHS Volunteer Responders are now available to provide NHS non-clinical support. Examples of the type of support you can request are: 

• Stewarding patients – supporting the safe movement of patients around the sites, both internally (e.g. within clinics/GP Surgeries/waiting areas) and externally (e.g. car parks/queues outside healthcare sites). They will be able to monitor patient numbers and ensure safe social distancing, as well as identifying patients who may need extra support.
• Signposting support – directing patients in hospitals through a specific route, ensuring social distancing and safe COVID-19 practices are adhered to.
• All existing support roles continue to be available, including patient transport to the vaccination sites 

How to request NHS Non-Clinical support volunteers

To request support from volunteers for the new NHS Non-clinical Support, please use the usual referral portal https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral. Those requesting support will need to be pre-approved to make a request. You will be approved if you hold an NHS email address or you have already been approved by the NHS Volunteer Responders Team. If you are not pre-approved, please email referrersupport@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk so that we can arrange this.

Key Information

• You can arrange in advance for a volunteer to support with a Non-clinical NHS Task at a specific time and place. As soon as you submit your request our available volunteers will receive an alert and can accept it so that you know that a volunteer is due to attend. 
• If you find that your clinic needs extra volunteers, you can also send a request for volunteers to attend on the day of the event.
• You can ask for multiple volunteers in one referral form.
• There will be a free-text box in the request form. Use this to provide all the information that volunteer(s) need to know before they accept the task, for example: where they should report, who they should ask for upon arrival, what they will be doing, what PPE will be provided. Please note that this must not include confidential, sensitive or personal information.
• You can manage and cancel your volunteer requests through your ‘referral dashboard’. 

What happens once I have requested NHS Non-clinical Support Volunteers?

• Volunteers in a defined geographical area will receive an alert with the details of the request. They can choose to confirm their attendance or pass the alert to another volunteer.
• Once the required number of volunteers have confirmed acceptance, the task will show as ‘complete’ on the referrer dashboard.
• On the day, the volunteers will arrive at the time requested on the referral. You must ensure that there is a member of the team available to meet them to brief them on their tasks. A nominated member of your team needs to be available to respond to any queries from the volunteers whilst they are on site.
• Referrers are responsible for providing volunteers with any PPE that is required to be worn on site. 

I have placed a referral for multiple volunteers, however there aren’t enough volunteers accepting the request.

Contact the Support Team on 0808 196 3382 (available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) who will be able to pass your referral on to the programme team for investigation. The programme team will also be able to help you access more volunteers. 

Please note: volunteers will not be able to perform duties such as receptionist roles, clinical roles or stewarding for non-healthcare events or transport hubs.

For more information please visit the dashboard. 

Checking if a volunteer has accepted your tasks

You are able to check if a referral has been matched with a volunteer by logging into the GoodSAM dashboard. 

Further information on the scheme is at: https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/. 

National Seasonal Influenza Immunisation Programme 2020/21: primary care frequently asked questions  26/10/2020

The aTIV flu vaccine should be offered to people aged 65 years and over as this is the preferred vaccine in this age group.   If a pharmacy or GP practice has run out of aTIV the patient can be advised to access aTIV from another provider whilst supplies remain in the area (as they currently do).   Guidance has been issued which advises how GP practices can order/pre-order additional vaccines from central DHSC stock where there is a genuine shortfall.   Community pharmacy guidance is due to be issued.  If no aTIV is available locally and it is unlikely that further supplies will be available, the general use of QIVc in this group of patients would then be appropriate.   

Referrals – your actions help 26/10/2020

As you will have seen last week and today, all services are extremely busy and continue to see the impact of rising need and staff needing to self-isolate. There are four areas today where we are asking for your continued support to ensure all clinicians are aware of and able to refer to the most appropriate place at this current time. 

1. Reminder to use RightCare Barnsley – Please ensure all patients needing to access hospital or community pathways (e.g. DVT pathways, AMAC, etc) go through RightCare as usual. Please do not send patients to ED if you would usually have used RightCare. You can still use Rightcare if you have had a telephone appointment with your patient. ED is for emergencies and so if you feel there is a reason why you can’t use RightCare please flag this, so we can understand the issues. 

2. Community services are also facing real challenges to increased demand and staffing issues associated with isolation etc. They continue to respond to your referrals as best they can so thank you for your continued support. 

3. The  GP Home Visiting Service has advised today (26/10) that they are prioritising patients with respiratory conditions but continue to send all referrals through as usual. They will advise if there are any issues as we move through this week. 

4. IAPT base has now reopened (26/10) You can now use the normal 01226 644900 phone line which is open as usual.  People can also refer themselves via website barnsleyiapt.co.uk   

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  22/10/2020

Please find attached (1) the latest MTU deployment information.

NHS/Social Care Staff Antibody Testing 22/10/2020

In the past we have supported the commitment to test NHS and social care staff for COVID-19 antibodies.

For a number of reasons we have decided to stop the local testing offer at Kendray Hospital:

• to eliminate the potential infection transmission risk associated with those being tested travelling to testing sites,
• particularly in light of South Yorkshire becoming a Tier 3 – Very High Risk area from Saturday
• to relive pressure on pathology services

A home ‘finger prick’ testing kit for antibodies has become available for social care staff, and will become available for NHS staff shortly. For any staff still awaiting a test, you can register for this alternative option at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-antibody-test . You need to wait to be invited to order a test kit. This invite may take a few weeks to arrive by email or text. It will contain a link and tell you what to do. Once ordered, your test kit will arrive in the post within 5 days.

Warning Only specific groups are eligible for antibody test kits right now. Unfortunately, if you registered and you're not eligible, we cannot offer you a test kit at this time. Eligibility for antibody test kits

Service Update from SWYPFT Community Services October 2020 22/1/2020

Here is the latest update from our colleagues in SWYPFT to primary care:

During the past few months following the initial Coronavirus outbreak SWYPFT services have continued to deliver face to face care wherever possible and appropriate and we are currently working hard to restore service provision in line with current guidance. Below is a summary of the service provision:

• General community services

General community services continue to prioritise patients with the greatest clinical need, utilising virtual consultations (telephone or video) where appropriate to do so, with a face-to-face offer for the majority of service elements.

• Integrated Neighbourhood Teams

Home Visits:

We have continued throughout CoVid19 to deliver urgent and essential nursing care (priority 1 and 2 Visits) across the community setting with a reduction in some non–essential clinical tasks such as ear syringing or face to face support visits at home where deemed not urgent or essential in line with guidance. 

• From September 2020, in addition to all Priority 1 and 2 visits, Injections (B12) Support visits and Basic Catheter care restarted
• From October 2020 nursing teams will be reintroducing routine visits for housebound patients.

The position will be continually reviewed in line with any local developments and local and national restrictions.  

Nursing Clinics:

Limited clinics have commenced for non-house bound patients requiring complex wound management only.

The reduced clinics in Community Nursing are held in line with building risk assessments,  social distancing rules and regulations, and will be reviewed again during November 2020.

Long Term Condition Reviews:

The Integrated Neighbourhood Teams at present are not currently undertaking Long Term Conditions Reviews unless the service is visiting that patient for other healthcare needs.

• Secondary Community MH services

All services continue to provide a blended approach of telephone, virtual or face to face contacts with service users. There has been no significant increase in referrals to SPA or IAPT.

• Barnsley CAMHS

Barnsley CAMHS are operating on a business as usual basis.  Referrals are processed daily by our SPA team and if accepted, we are currently working to an initial assessment within 7 working days.  All our treatment pathways including medical reviews/input are still functioning.  We are offering virtual/telephone based consultations and talking therapies where appropriate but all pathways are offering face to face when required or necessary for the modality of treatment.

If you have any questions please contact Trudy Warner trudy.warner@swyt.nhs.uk or 01226 644388

 

Launch of 2021/22 community mental health transformation funding process  19/10/2020

All STPs are being allocated funding to expand and transform their community mental health services for adults with severe mental illnesses. Primary care networks (PCNs) should work with partners to design new service models, which will go live from April 2021. Models should deliver an integrated experience for this group, who often fall into gaps between primary and secondary care.  PCNs are encouraged to get in touch with regional mental health teams and view further information on the Adult Mental Health FutureNHS workspace (if you are not a member you may need to join). 

Diabetes Professional Care Virtual – 11 – 13 November 2020   19/10/2020

The launch of  Diabetes Professional Care Virtual which will take place on  11-12-13 November 2020!   

Private fostering arrangements   19/10/2020

Private fostering is where a private arrangement is made to look after a child under 16 years of age (or 18 years if disabled) for more than 28 days, where the main carer is someone other than the child's parent, step-parent, legal guardian, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle. It is not an arrangement made by the local authority where a child is placed with an approved foster carer.  Under the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005, all such arrangements should be notified to Children's Fostering Services.  If you become aware of such an arrangement please ring 01226 775875.  Checks can then be made to ensure this is a suitable arrangement for the child/ young person and that their needs are being met.  

Changes to Hospice Lymphoedema Service and Updated Referral Form   19/10/2020

There are changes to the Lymphoedema Hospice Service – please refer to the attached letter (attachment 2a) from the Hospice for more details. 

The main changes are:

• new referral criteria
• an updated referral form
• Hospice will not be funding garments. 

An updated referral form is attached (attachment 2b).  For further details please contact the Hospice on 01226 323615 or email swy-tr.barnsleyhospice@nhs.net

Changing the prognosis of obese patients today  19/10/2020

First of an unmissable series.  Three free interactive broadcasts with CPD points  Wednesday 18 November 1400 – 1800.

See attachment 1 for further information and registration details.

Outbreaks and Infection Prevention Control (IPC)  19/10/2020

A number of COVID-19 outbreaks have recently been reported in General Practices in parts of England. We know that GP Practices will already be working hard to maintain covid-secure settings for their patients and staff, but by way of a reminder we would like to draw your attention again to the latest IPC guidance which is relevant for all settings. Please see also item regarding Outbreak Management SOP in Practice section for further information

Staff should also remain vigilant out of work – consider ways in which you may be risking becoming a contact, e.g. car sharing, socializing with people (including work colleagues) outside of your household/bubble and not maintaining social distancing (a mask does not constitute full PPE and so is not sufficient to allow you to come within 2m for >15m without becoming a contact should they later develop symptoms/test positive).

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  15/10/2020

Please find attached (4) the latest MTU deployment information.

GP Practice Questionnaire – GP Services Restart Self Declaration 15/10/2020

This is a polite reminder to send in the attached (3) questionnaire in regards to the services that are currently being delivered in your GP practice.  This was originally sent out to all Practice Managers on 29 September 2020.

We would appreciate if you could complete this and return to barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net by 5pm on Monday 19^th October 2020.

This questionnaire has been devised to help the CCG ascertain which services are currently being delivered by GP practices across Barnsley and aims to help us establish a baseline.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank GP practices for all they have done throughout this global pandemic, we appreciate how hard practices have worked and how quickly they have adapted to the changes that have been requested. 

The new CQRS welcome page is now live! 15/10/2020

The new CQRS welcome page is now live! It can be accessed using the below URL:

http://welcome.cqrs.nhs.uk/   

The welcome page does not replace the CQRS system, which can still be accessed through all the usual channels ensuring continuity of service.

The welcome page does, however, link out to the system, while also containing training and user guides, relevant contact details and news and updates on everything CQRS related. As well as being a central point of access to the system with user guides and training, the landing page will be regularly updated with news and information relevant to you regarding CQRS.

As such, please bookmark this page to ensure you’re kept up to date on all CQRS developments.

Interruption of Roche Reagent Distribution 15/10/2020

On 7 October a CAS alert was issued in relation to an interruption in the supply chain for reagent supplied by Roche Diagnostics Ltd. The issue resulted in variable impact across the country and the response is being managed locally. GPs should ensure they are in contact with their CCG and local pathology labs, who will be helping to coordinate the response.

Significant work has been undertaken and Roche are now operating at full capacity, whilst working at pace to address any backlog. In some parts of the country GP practices may have been asked to temporarily pause requests for non-urgent bloods. Practices should however continue to make urgent blood requests where they consider this to be clinically appropriate. GP practices may also be asked to support the identification of urgent work across bloods that have been taken but not processed, or where requests have been initiated but not taken.

Teledermatology Pilot – Remote Link Function 15/10/2020 

There is a function on the world health net system for patients to send images of their dermatology symptoms remotely so they do not need to come into the GP surgery for a face to face appointment. Please find attached (6) user guide which shows how to do this.

Please contact Janine.quate@nhs.net if you need any further information or clarification.

MakingSpace E-Circular  12/10/2020

Please see attached E-Circular for the MakingSpace Dementia Service.

South Yorkshire MTU deployments 12/10/2020

Please find attached a list fo SY deployments.  

Please check on the BMBC website, which is updated daily regarding the mobile unit (10am - 4pm), as venues sometimes change at short notice: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/

Booking is open 6-8pm for the following day via the online portal or 119.

Mental Health support for new and expectant mums in Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield   12/10/2020

SWYPFT wanted to share with you their plans for World Mental Health Day and ask for practice support in sharing key messages, and also a toolkit with your relevant staff please. The toolkit is available from the primary care team. 

SWYPFT have primarily focused on mental health support for new and expectant mums, working with our perinatal mental health team. This is due to feedback and trends we’ve seen as a Trust and in our local areas. We plan to share the range of support available through a new signposting guide. This guide will be hosted on our Trust website in a news article, and promoted through social media on the day.

SWYPFT have also developed the attached toolkit (attachment 4) for GPs, midwives and health visitors across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield – in which this guide sits too. This will feature useful information about mental health support all in once place, to help professionals with signposting the women they work with.

SWYPFT are asking for your support in sharing this toolkit with GPs, midwives and health visitors in your organisation.  Alongside any other professionals you feel relevant.

Reimbursement scheme for the Immigration Health Surcharge 8/10/2020

The Department of Health and Social Care launched the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) reimbursement service on 1 October 2020.

Applicants are eligible if:

• they are a non-tier 2 visa holder and have paid the IHS; or
• they have paid the IHS; and
• they have worked in a health or social care role for at least an average of 16 hours per week since 31 March 2020.

Applicants must provide payslips for the period they are claiming reimbursement for. Visit the IHS website to start a claim.

NHS COVID-19 Test and Trace App 8/10/2020

We understand there have been questions around how healthcare workers use the NHS COVID-19 Test and Trace App while at work. NHS Test and Trace App guidance has been circulated to you which should help alleviate any concerns or questions your staff may have. In summary, the guidance says:

• healthcare workers are encouraged to download the NHS COVID-19 app to help the fight against coronavirus
• healthcare workers should use the ‘pause’ contact-tracing function on the app when they are in healthcare buildings including hospitals and GP surgeries
• healthcare workers are still able to use some of the app’s functionality while the app contact-tracing feature is paused, should they wish i.e. checking into canteens.

Please distribute the full guidance to your staff. Further questions on how healthcare workers can use the NHS COVID-19 app are answered on the NHS Test and Trace website.

The Sound Doctor – Contract Extension 8/10/2020

The Sound Doctor Contract has been extended for another two years, until 1st October 2022.

It offers an excellent online patient education resource, which provides a viable and effective alternative or enhancement to face to face education. The content consists of condition libraries of between 30 and 60 short ( 3-5) minute films, including graphics and animations, featuring leading clinicians as well as expert patients. The Sound Doctor has national accreditation, content is clinically led and evaluations consistently demonstrate significant behaviour change and reduction in GP visits and avoidable hospital admissions. Courses include: structured education for diabetes, looking after your mental health at work and an animated course on diet and exercise for children. Library topics covered include: diabetes, COPD, heart failure, dementia, back pain, weight management surgery, Ageing well at home (including Falls, alcohol issues, loneliness and isolation) and Keeping well at work (including stress, anxiety, sleep problems, diet and nutrition).

If you would like a reminder about the service The Sound Doctor offers and how your patients can access it, please contact rosie@thesounddoctor.org for more information.  

Primary care networks working with community services  5/10/2020

The NHS Long Term Plan outlined how the Enhanced Health in Care Homes model would be rolled out across England by 2024, which moves away from traditional reactive models of care delivery towards proactive care that is centred on the needs of individual residents, their families and care home staff. The model is included in the primary care networks (PCNs) Directed Enhanced Service (DES) for 2020/21, as well as the NHS Standard Contract. From today, PCNs working with Community Services have been asked to:

• deliver a weekly ‘home round’ to your aligned care homes;
• work with your multidisciplinary teams to develop and refresh the personalised care and support plan for the patients living in your aligned care homes;
• support with a patient’s discharge from hospital and transfers of care between settings, including giving due regard to NICE Guideline 271.

The Enhanced Health in Care Homes Framework provides helpful advice on achieving this and should be read alongside these contractual requirements. Contact the team for more information.

RPS and RCGP joint statement on delivery of flu vaccination programme  5/10/2020

The RCGP and the RPS has issued a joined statement emphasising how important professional collaboration locally between GPs and community pharmacy is to deliver the flu vaccination programme in the most effective way for patients. 

Environments where the vaccine is delivered must be safe and include adequate access to PPE. All eligible, trained professionals should be utilised to administer the vaccine and good processes for sharing information and routes of communication between GPs and community pharmacy should be established, to encourage uptake.

Diabetes UK’s free online event – “Feet First” - People living with diabetes/anyone caring for someone with diabetes  5/10/2020

Please can you share this notice with your patients. North of England  Diabetes UK team has arranged a free webinar that will be packed full of useful advice around foot care see attachment 2

The ‘Let’s Talk About Feet’ webinar will take place on Tuesday, October 20 (8pm-9.30pm) and the emphasis will very much be on care, not scare… with no gory pictures!

There will also be a live ‘how to check your feet’ session.

You’ll hear from:

• Dr Rajiv Gandhi (Clinical Director & Consultant Physician at Northern General Hospital, Sheffield)
• Donna Welch (Podiatry Operations Manager and Professional Lead for Hull and East Riding Podiatry)
• Colette Jones (community podiatrist based in South Tyneside and a member of the Northern Diabetes Footcare Network)
• Diabetes UK volunteer Andy Lavender, who will share his foot care experiences

The session will take place via Zoom and it’s quick and easy to register HERE. Please email evie.kinghorn@diabetes.org.uk if you have any queries

Stop smoking support in pregnancy: New posters help self-referrals  28/3/2020

Barnsley’s new Public Health Specialist Midwife, Walburgh Manhungira and the Stop Smoking in Pregnancy team will be distributing A4 laminated posters and smaller back-of-door stickers to you for toilet doors to encourage women to stop smoking in pregnancy.  The posters and stickers have QR codes on them which pregnant women can use to self-refer into our Stop Smoking in Pregnancy service.

Women will need to scan the QR code using their smart phones, provide their name and contact number and send the message that appears on their screen to us.  A member of the team will contact them within 48 hours. The poster is attached (attachment 3a ) for your information.

My Best Life Social Prescribing Service and the PCN Youth and Families Social Prescribing Service  28/9/2020

My Best Life have kindly provided this update in relation to the My Best Life Social Prescribing Service and how their service will continue to support patients aged 18+, alongside the new Youth and Families Social Prescribing service with Barnsley PCN/Healthcare Federation.   See attachments 2a, attachment 2b and attachment 2c and please share this with your colleagues.

From Monday 7 September the new Social Prescribing Link Workers commenced their 2 week training.  As you may be aware, through DES requirements the PCNs have responsibility to create and run a Social Prescribing Service. However, as My Best Life Barnsley are commissioned through Barnsley CCG to support those aged 18+, the decision has been made to create a separate service that will cater for the social prescribing needs of young people and their families. My Best Life will continue to support those 18+, and if you have any further questions then please don’t hesitate to contact My Best Life! 

• Find out more about My Best Life Social Prescribing here: https://www.livewellbarnsley.co.uk/directory/syha-my-best-life-social-prescribing-service/
• Please also find attached an overview through My Best  Life’s annual report, and a snapshot of their working practices during Covid-19
• Find out more about the new Youth and Families Social Prescribing service on the attached presentation 

Both services will be working alongside each other to best support the people of Barnsley. 

South Yorkshire Mobile Testing Unit deployments  28/9/2020

Attached are detailed of the mobile testing deployment for SY 

Please check on the BMBC website, which is updated daily regarding the mobile unit (10am - 4pm), as venues sometimes change at short notice: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/

Booking is open 6-8pm for the following day via the online portal or 119.

Dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic Dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic 24/9/2020

Please see attached (2) C0747 - Dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic.

This can also be found at:  https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/community-social-care-ambulance/mental-health/ and the NHSE/I site here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/resources/dementia/ shortly.

Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month/Cervical Screening -Non-Binary people and/or Transgender Men with a Cervix 24/9/2020

REMINDER: September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, and Jo’s Trust have launched new information about cervical screening for non-binary people and/or transgender men with a cervix and for the healthcare professionals who support them

The new resources which you can access here, aim to provide healthcare professionals with information and tips on:

• The specific barriers this community faces to accessing cervical screening
• How to provide the best possible care and a safe environment
• How to work with labs to process a cervical screening sample for a trans man and/or non-binary person with a cervix

SCFT - GP Bloods 24/9/2020

Paediatric Blood Tests at Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Please note, the process for booking blood tests at Sheffield Children’s Hospital is different to that of adults. Upon a patient needing bloods at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, please ensure a blood appointment is made by calling 0114 3053691, who will find an appropriate day and time for the patient to attend. To reduce unexpected attendance at the hospital and support manage footfall in response to Covid-19 it is vital that patients are advised that this is not a walk in service.

Please ensure the patient brings the correct paediatric forms and upon arrival to the Trust uses the self-check-in kiosks wherever possible.

With the changes required due to COVID-19, please also note the guidance on wearing face coverings when in the hospital. For all the latest up to date guidance please refer to the hospital’s website (www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk). There are a number of videos available to show what families are to expect when visiting the hospital.

New Personalised Care Training Hub is now open  21/9/2020

The new Personalised Care Institute is a virtual training hub for all health and care staff to access the very latest in personalised care training and development.

It offers a wide-range of flexible, evidence-based and accredited courses from a variety of providers and will support staff to gain the knowledge and confidence to provide Personalised Care to their patients. For more details, visit our website, view our animation and join in the conversation on Twitter via @Pers_Care_Inst

New technology rolled out in South Yorkshire to support Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) to arrange Mental Health Act (MHA) assessments  21/9/2020

A new app and website which makes it faster and easier to connect AMHPs with available local Section 12 doctors has been rolled out across South Yorkshire. The S12 Solutions app has been commissioned by SYB ICS as the methodology previously used by AMHPs relied upon using a small number of doctors for Mental Health Act Assessments, often leading to delays. Consequently, service users and their families were potentially left distressed and at risk whilst AMHPs tried to find and secure available Section 12 doctors 

S12 Solutions is an app and website, developed by an AMHP, which reduces Mental Health Act administration, leaving AMHPs and doctors more time to do what they do best – supporting a person in crisis. 

S12 Solutions is working with 60% of the Mental Health Trusts in England and is part of 2 NHS Innovation Programmes.

Benefits for doctors

The platform’s purpose is to encourage contact about appropriate assessments when you’re available, and reduce contact during your downtime.

• Add your availability for s.12 work and the capacity in which you’re available (Trust, On-Call, Independent)
• Add your time away into your calendar
• Keep your contact and skills information up to date
• Quickly, easily and securely submit digital claim forms and track the status of your claims 

Benefits for AMHPs

The platform’s purpose is to help you efficiently organise the best available assessing team, leaving you more time to focus on assessment preparation.

• Search for available, local doctors and filter results by languages, specialisms and gender
• Contact doctors via text, multi text or by calling from your search results via the platform
• Checking s.12 approval is no longer required as S12 Solutions’ link to the MHA Register Database does this for you 

You don’t need a smart phone to use S12 Solutions; you can access these features from your computer with the same login information. 

“The S12 app rapidly became an invaluable tool for both AMHPs and doctors where I was working. Simple to use, intuitive, really helpful – I highly recommend it.” Dr Glenn Cornish, Consultant Psychiatrist 

If you’re a doctor who’d like to join the platform, please submit your information here:

Click here to register with S12 Solutions 

For more information, please visit S12 Solutions’ website: www.s12solutions.com  or follow S12 Solutions on Twitter: @S12Solutions

Videos to Support people with Learning Disabilities through Covid-19  21/9/2020

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have developed a series of videos to help people with learning disabilities and those supporting them during the Covid-19 pandemic. The series includes videos explaining what the coronavirus is and how it is transmitted, what lockdown rules mean and strategies for coping with anxiety, worry and loss (grief).

The team at Surrey and Borders have kindly agreed to make these available on YouTube so that they can be used more widely to help all those who might benefit.

A playlist for the 20 videos for people with learning disabilities can be found at:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVgWWNqce45o8XjfHNcVJCjJjMfU8u-_

(attachment 6)

 A playlist for the 13 videos for families/ carers / support staff can be found at:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVgWWNqce44jhEbXzBMrjaMILaz3LcD1

(attachment 7)

Please use and share as appropriate, with thanks to our colleagues from Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.​

Flu vaccinations advised for all Primary Care staff 21/9/2020

In order to protect colleagues from seasonal flu and ongoing COVID-19 risks, we are asking employers to ensure that all their staff, including locums, are vaccinated.

The national flu immunisation programme letter of 5 August 2020 outlined how people eligible for free flu vaccination will be offered this through local NHS arrangements, meeting their responsibility to protect their staff and patients and support the resilience of the health and care system. It is particularly important to ensure that staff who could be at higher risk, such as Black and Ethnic Minority employees, are adequately protected this winter. Download this communications toolkit for more information.

Barnsley and Rotherham Integrated Laboratory Services (BRILS)  21/9/2020

For the last 4 months BRILS laboratories have been preparing for the replacement of the current analysers to the higher specification automation.  BRILS have completed all the required installation and verification processes and anticipate switching over to the new automation in about 3 weeks.  The exact date of going “live” will be communicated in further communication.

The new analysers automatically detect and suppress results where sample integrity is compromised. This is in line with the international laboratory standards ISO 15189, to which the BRILS laboratory subscribes, and thus has a duty to ensure the quality and accuracy of analytical results.

This means that once the new analysers “go live” there will be significant changes to the way patients’ results are reported as follows:

1. BRILS will not be providing results on significantly haemolysed samples but instead will request a repeat sample. This is because we are unable to indicate the degree to which these results may be affected by haemolysis, hence a repeat sample will be required in order to have accurate results.   The practice of suppressing results on haemolysed samples has been already widely implemented within the local SY&B pathology network and nationally over the recent years.
2. Results for Potassium, CK and LDH in case of “slightly” haemolysed samples will be generated with a comment indicating the presence of haemolysis and advice to repeat testing in order to get accurate result. This is because those tests are affected already at the lowest levels of haemolysis (commonly due to poor sampling technique) unlike the other tests which are affected at the more significant levels of haemolysis.
3. Results on significantly icteric (increased bilirubin concentration) and lipaemic (increased lipids) samples will be reported with the comments indicating potential adverse effect on the result.

In addition the reference ranges for some tests will change as of 22.09.20 - please always refer to the ranges available next to the result or to our laboratory handbook available on the intranet.  The results with the new reference ranges will be accompanied with a comment so this will be easily noticeable for you.”

COVID PCR swab testing for staff  17/9/2020

Following our earlier communication regarding the national issue accessing Covid swab testing via 119 and online portal, please be advised:

• The advice is to keep trying on the online portal as slots are added intermittently at different times of the day
• The local testing unit at County Way and the roaming mobile unit will no longer accept people for swabbing without an appointment and the individual must have symptoms.
• If you are unable to access a test for a member of staff (or household contacts) with symptoms, then please contact the Primary Care Team as temporary arrangements have been made to access urgent testing at County Way between 7-8pm.
• Work is urgently underway to set up a local drive-through site for key workers (or their household contacts). Further information will be shared as soon as possible.

If practices have any issues or queries regarding staff testing then please contact the CCG Primary Care Team

Mobile Testing Unit 17/9/2020

Please check on the BMBC website, which is updated daily regarding the mobile unit (10am - 4pm), as venues sometimes change at short notice: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/

Booking is open 6-8pm for the following day via the online portal or 119.

NHS Health Checks Primary Care 17/9/2020

We are pleased to inform you that a number of your colleague practices have now re-commenced with the delivery of the NHS Health Checks, having met Covid infection control standards. When you feel ready to re-commence providing the NHS Health Checks within your practice then please contact abbie.brierley@nhs.net. 

We would require the practices to provide us with a Covid-19 Risk Assessment for the delivering of the NHS Health Check. It may be that your staff require refresher training on providing the Health Check, which can be delivered via video conferencing via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. If you require refresher training please contact Abbie so that we can arrange this as soon as possible. We look forward to working together to provide this valuable service to improve the Cardiovascular Health within the Barnsley population".

COVID-19 antibody test results flowing to GP records 14/9/2020

Results from COVID-19 antibody tests are now flowing into GP records. From 10 September, when a person undertakes an antibody test that is taken through the public antibody portal (an industry ELISA test), the result will now be loaded directly into their patient records. This will be in addition to flowing of test results for pillar 2 viral testing and will follow the same process, according to each practice’s GP IT system provider of choice.

Results will be presented on patients’ records as ‘positive’, ‘negative’ or ‘unknown’. As for viral testing, there will be no action required from the GP practice on receipt of the test results. Bulk upload of test results into GP records will take place without any manual patient by patient process. GP practices will shortly receive further guidance by their own system supplier about how this will work in their own system of choice, as well as details on how results will be filed in the system.

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  10/9/2020

Please find attached (2) the latest forward schedule for MTU deployment in South Yorkshire for the period Wednesday 9 September 2020 – Sunday 20 September 2020. 

Healthwatch Barnsley new website address 10/9/2020

Please note Healthwatch Barnsley have a new website address https://healthwatchbarnsley.org.uk/ 

COVID PCR swab testing for staff  10/9/2020

Practices will be aware there is a national issue accessing Covid swab testing via 119 and online portal.

A few key points to clarify:

• Slots are generally added to the system around 6-8pm the night before, for tests the next day
• By 11am the bookings tend to be shut down in areas where there is no local concern, as lab capacity has been reached
• The advice is to keep trying on the online portal
• The local mobile unit at County Way will accept people for swabbing without an appointment in exceptional circumstances (e.g. impacts on health care service provision). If the test is required for a member of staff, and they have any of the symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste), they can just turn up and request a test. Pease note: disregard the sign that states an appointment is needed. We ask practices to use your discretion in utilising this facility as if demand increases significantly it is likely this will be stopped.
• A request has been made to ensure any additional mobile units that are deployed are advertised in a timely manner so that practices know of other testing sites available locally. Further information will be shared when received.

We are also looking at supplying all practices with a stock of swab kits to enable self-swabbing of any staff in your team who develop symptoms – these tests will be analysed locally via Pillar 1 testing not Pillar 2 (as per mobile testing units), so we hope that results will be back in a timely manner to enable minimal disruption to services. Further information will be shared once this process has been arranged.

If practices have any issues or queries regarding staff testing then please contact the CCG Primary Care Team

Diabetes UK updates - Clinical Champion programme, Moving More and new Diabetes in healthcare modules 10/9/2020

Please find the update below from Diabetes UK.

• Steroid–induced Diabetes

We have published a new page on our website about steroid-induced diabetes.  We look at what causes this type of diabetes, as well as the symptoms and risk factors that people taking steroids should be aware of : https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/other-types-of-diabetes/steroid-induced-diabetes

• Diabetes UK Clinical Champions programme - 5 remaining spaces, apply now!

We have 5 spaces remaining on the next cohort of our inspiring Clinical Champions programme. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from you if:

• You are working on improving diabetes at the system level.
• Working to tackle inequality in diabetes care or prevention.
• Working in Northern Ireland.
• You are Black and working in diabetes (Black colleagues are under-represented on our programme). 

The Diabetes UK Clinical Champions programme is a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals to develop their personal leadership style and to learn new skills, which will help them to deliver a project to improve care in their area. This project will focus on an area of improvement that the Clinical Champion has identified as a pressing issue in their locality.

Clinical Champions get the following support: 

• Leadership training at the world-renowned Hult Ashridge Executive Education
• Peer support through Action Learning Sets
• Improvement coaching from a dedicated Healthcare Improvement Consultant
• Media coverage to raise their profile
• Ongoing support from Diabetes UK 

You can find out more about the programme on our website here. 

To apply please submit your application by midnight on Wednesday 9 September. Please note you don’t have to secure information for your referee or executive support to submit your application, but you will need to secure if invited to interview in order to be successfully appointed onto the programme. Interviews will take place the week beginning Monday 14 September. Diabetes and Moving More – Tuesday 29^th September 8pm-9:15pm

The North of England Diabetes UK team are presenting an online zoom session for people living with diabetes, taking an informal and relaxed look at the basics of getting more active. Topics for discussion will include practical ideas and suggestions, advice for people of all fitness levels and a personal perspective on living with diabetes and the barriers to exercise.  Anyone interested can sign up to this event via Eventbrite by clicking on the link: https://movingmore.eventbrite.co.uk

Save the Date - UK Diabetes in Pregnancy Masterclass – Tuesday 17^th November 2020 - More details to follow

Diabetes in healthcare

We have developed a new set of modules with Professor Alan Sinclair, to support staff working in care and residential homes who look after residents living with diabetes. The modules include; Principles of Diabetes, Treating Diabetes and Vascular and Non Vascular Complications of Diabetes. You can find the new modules on our website here

Type 1 Zoom sessions for Parents and Carers

We have a further panel for parents and carers in September:

Topic: Becoming more independent

When: Monday, 21 September - 7-8.30pm

Panellists: Volunteers living with type 1, discussing their own experiences

The link to sign up to any of the panels is here: https://eu.eventscloud.com/esurvey/200041018

Don’t forget

We continue to update our webpages; our advice for healthcare professionals on coronavirus (COVID-19) and diabetes and coronavirus advice page for people living with diabetes and their families. These pages are based on the most recent guidance available and also signpost to other relevant sources of support and information.

We have some helpful information to help people staying at home and managing their diabetes and to help people cope with stress and other emotions. There is also a useful coronavirus thread on our online forum, where members are sharing information and experiences. People can follow and keep up to date with us and our advice and support on our North of England Diabetes UK Facebook support group,  Diabetes UK Facebook and Twitter feeds. For anyone not able to access face to face diabetes education or support during this time our Leaning Zone is a good place to access simple information from our Diabetes UK clinical team, and sensible advice from people living with diabetes.

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  7/9/2020

 South Yorkshire MTU deployments for 7th September are attached here. 

Teledermatology Service 3/9/2020

Please note the current Teledermatology Service provided by Clinical Partnership will be continuing until 31 December 2021.

Please continue to use this service.

Please do not hesitate to contact Janine Quate at Janine.quate@nhs.net or Siobhan Lendzionowski  at siobhan.lendzionowski@nhs.net if you require any further information, support or clarification.

 NHS Low Calorie Diet Pilot available in South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw from the 1st of September 2020 1/9/2020

From today hundreds of people will be able to access NHS soup and shake weight-loss plans to tackle type 2 diabetes, we are pleased to announce we are one of only ten successful pilot sites to be awarded to deliver the pilot which you may hear about in the news today. The diet and lifestyle plans have been shown to put Type 2 diabetes into remission for people recently diagnosed with the condition, and will now be provided to 5,000 people nationally – including 500 participants across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw in an NHS drive to increase access to the life-changing programme.

The year-long plan will see those who could benefit provided with ‘total diet replacement products’, such as shakes and soups, for three months, alongside support to increase their exercise levels. To help people maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid complications linked to obesity patients will also be offered managed plans for reintroducing ordinary, nutritious food, with ongoing support from clinicians and coaches after that.

Results from one trial showed almost half of those who went on the diet achieved remission of their Type 2 diabetes after one year. As well as helping individuals lead happier and healthier lives, enhanced action on obesity and diabetes is also expected to save the NHS money and free up staff time.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity said: “This is the latest example of how the NHS, through our Long Term Plan, is rapidly adopting the latest evidence-based treatments to help people stay well, maintain a healthy weight and avoid major diseases.  There has never been a more important time to lose weight and put their Type 2 diabetes into remission, so it’s good news for thousands of people across the country that practical, supportive measures like this are increasingly available on the NHS.”

The programme is in addition to the world-leading Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme which has had over 600,000 referrals into the scheme, continuing to work very successfully in SYB via Microsoft Teams and now people who are eligible can refer themselves into the programme online rather than needing a GP referral.

Bev, who was one of the first patients to benefit from the diets during trials, said: “My goal for the first eight weeks of the low calorie diet was to lose 5% of my body weight – which I achieved in six weeks – and in total I’ve lost over 10kgs, my Type 2 diabetes is now in remission and I no longer have to take any medication – I am over the moon.  Since the low-calorie diet programme, my mind set has totally changed for the better and I look at food differently now – my shopping habits are far healthier and, when I eat out, I’ll go for a healthier option. The programme has taught me moderation.  My skin is clearer, and people say that I’ve got my sparkle back – I didn’t realise that I’d lost it but now I see that I definitely had. I can honestly say that the low-calorie diet programme changed my life for the better.”

Bridget Turner, Director of Policy Campaigns and Improvement at Diabetes UK, said: “This is an important first step to ensure that people with type 2 diabetes, can access a remission programme within the NHS and benefit from the ground-breaking findings of the Diabetes UK funded DiRECT research.  We know that some people with type 2 diabetes want and need support from health care professionals to lose weight effectively and now as these programmes are piloted across the NHS – they will.  People with type 2 diabetes who have put their diabetes into remission frequently tell us how it has changed their lives. We are so pleased to see that others will now have the same opportunity and hope that it won’t be too long before more remission programmes are rolled out across the country.”

People living with Type 2 diabetes who have been diagnosed with the condition in the last six years will be considered for the pilots. Individuals must also meet other eligibility criteria to be referred to the service to ensure the programme is right for them.

In summary;

• The referral form can be found on EMIS and Systm1 (referrers are reminded they must discuss medication changes to take place on first day of TDR and provide written confirmation of these change to the patient and Provider).  Flowchart for Referrers is attached (2).
• Communications pack provided by NHSE/I is attached (3), if you require any further information in relation to the content please let me know.  (some of the slides mention clinical searches however as recommended due to the nature of the pilot quality of referral is essential please refer your motivated patients as discussed)
• Welcome pack for patients is also attached (4) if they are referred subject to their eligibility.

If you have any queries or would like to arrange an MS Teams discussion please contact  Faye Senior, South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw ICS Diabetes Programme Facilitator on: faye.senior@nhs.net.

Cytology training for qualified Nurse Associates 1/9/2020

Senior Primary Care Nurses are pulling together a bid across the ICS for GPNs and Nurse Associates. The bid is to fund the development of cytology training for qualified Nurse Associates. Nurse Associates can now access this training.

If you have any Nurse Associates working in your surgeries who require this training, and funding please email Andrea Parkin:  a.parkin@nhs.net.

Developing a new Respiratory Service for Barnsley  1/9/2020

The CCG wants to change the way care is provided for adults with respiratory conditions and want to hear your views on our proposals. for further information.

To find out more, see attachment 1 and have your say on our proposals by Sunday 13 September 2020 

COVID-19 Crisis Counselling Support Service 1/9/2020

As we continue to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on health and social care staff, we are delighted that so many colleagues have taken up one or more of the various elements of the national support offer through the NHS People website.

In addition to those services we have commissioned, we have now added a free service developed and funded by the Association of Christian Counsellors, who are offering up to 10 online or telephone counselling sessions to people working within the NHS who are directly impacted by COVID-19; people working in residential care homes who have been impacted by caring for those with Covid-19; and anyone who has been bereaved during this time. The confidential service is open to people of all beliefs and none, and you can ask to be matched on ethnicity. You can call them on 0247 644 9694.

Reintroduction of NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) guidance 1/9/2020

New guidance has been published to support the reintroduction of NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Local Authorities from 1 September 2020. The new guidance document sets out how CCGs, working with local authorities, reintroduce NHS CHC assessment processes and how this aligns to the introduction of a maximum of 6 weeks of funded health and care recovery and support services after discharge from hospital. It also addresses the deferred assessments from the period of 19 March – 31 August 2020.   

Apex Insight – none renewal of licences  27/8/2020

As you are aware NHSE funded Apex Insight licences for GP practices across the region. We would like to inform practices that unfortunately these licences end on 31^st August 2020, and, due to limited uptake neither NHSE or the CCG plan to fund these licences going forwards.

Apex will be contacting all practice users shortly to communicate next steps, however if you have any queries please contact the Primary Care Team on: barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  27/8/2020

South Yorkshire MTU deployments for 27th August onwards are available here.  

Nursing and Midwifery Council review  27/8/2020

The NMC are now reviewing the standards of proficiency and the associated programme standards set for specific nursing roles.  This is to ensure practitioners are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to deliver high quality care now and in the future.

See NMC webpage https://www.nmc.org.uk/education/programme-of-change-for-education/reviewing-our-post-registration-standards/  There are a series of webinars where you can find out more.

To register for the GPN SPQs  (1st September 2020, 16:00 - 17:00) follow the link:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9101307963229626893

Diabetes Clinical Network Update: August 2020  27/8/2020

This month the newsletter, see attachment 2 contains information for all those interested in diabetes care including;

• The ‘Healthier You’ programme (NDPP) update
• The launch of the ‘Best Practice Guide for Diabetes Technology in Pregnancy’
• Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) Freestyle Libre audit report and new publications including guidance on risk optimization for people with type 2 diabetes and CVD
• Delivering Diabetes Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Government Obesity Strategy – July 2020
• Diabetes UK updates including ‘sick day rules’ leaflets in 12 languages, and volunteers requested for a new app for people with type 2 diabetes
• Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) updates and the Freestyle Libre audit results
• National Diabetes Audits

Any feedback or suggestions for inclusion? If so, please contact england.yhdiabetescn@nhs.net

Developing a new Respiratory Service for Barnsley  27/8/2020

The CCG wants to change the way care is provided for adults with respiratory conditions and want to hear your views on our proposals. for further information.

To find out more, see attachment 1 and have your say on our proposals by Sunday 13 September 2020 

NHS Volunteer Responder programme updates  24/8/2020

Fortnightly webinars are being held to provide regular updates on the NHS Volunteer Responder programme. The webinars are for referrers and colleagues working across health and care, including: primary care; social care; local authorities; government departments; voluntary sector organisations; STPs and ICSs; and NHS England and Improvement regional teams.

These webinars will provide an overview of the programme, including facts, figures and the most recent updates on programme adaptations in response to policy changes and the needs of vulnerable people.

• Thursday 3 September, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 17 September, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
• Thursday 1 October, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

South Yorkshire MTU deployments  24/8/2020

 South Yorkshire MTU deployments for w/c 24th August can be accessed here.

Primary care networks and care homes  24/8/2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus how important it is for primary care network teams to be well organised and support care home residents and staff.

The NHS Confederation’s PCN Network’s new briefing explores pharmacy’s role in PCN multidisciplinary teams supporting care homes, including case studies, top tips and where to go for support.

Low Calorie Diet Pilot – South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw  24/8/2020

South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw ICS Diabetes Programme are pleased to announce following initial expressions of interest from practices across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw in relation to the Low Calorie Diet Pilot (LCD) in the summer of 2019, NHS England have confirmed the pilot is going ahead with its launch from 1 September 2020.  SYB are only one of ten nationally commissioned sites who were successful in delivering this pilot. 

The LCD pilot will be running from the 1^st of September 2020 currently through to September 2022. The aim is to support patients with Type 2 Diabetes (diagnosed within the last 6 years) achieve remission. This will be through one to one support via a Low Calorie Diet Wellbeing Worker .  (Referral form and resources will be shared in due course). 

We are exploring with the Primary Care Network Clinical Director’s how we will roll this out across practices.  If you are interested in taking part please can you let us know asap.  Ideally we are looking for one practice per neighbourhood to volunteer to provide a clinical room for the face to face sessions to run.  Over the duration of the pilot approximately 100 participants will be able to take part in the pilot i.e. 50 to 70 people per year will come to the sessions with some being virtual delivery, we are thinking each neighbourhood would need to host sessions about half a day per week.

For more information regarding the pilot please click here.

Please contact Faye Senior or Sarah Clarke, Diabetes Project Officer if you are interested or for further information either by email or by calling 01777 590034.

National Diabetes Prevention Programme  24/8/2020

A reminder to inform all in practice the Diabetes Prevention Programme is still open for referrals with sessions being provided for patients via Microsoft Teams or by phone if patients prefer – please continue to refer all eligible patients.  The brief video here is extremely useful for patients and practice colleagues alike for an insight into the programme and how patients can start their journey to a healthier future!

Eligible patients can still benefit from this free programme by contacting REED Wellbeing, whom will explain the current delivery options available and discuss how to best meet the requirements of the patient, whether this be by telephone or online.  Patients can also see if they may be at high risk of Type 2 diabetes by using the At Risk tool here - www.diabetes.org.uk/risk - please promote on your website and via any social media platforms to maximise awareness!

Where possible practices are encouraged to undertake clinical system searches to capture all eligible patients within the last 24 months and offer the programme to patients – Practice Manager’s have received separate communication regarding these searches.

The eligible criteria for a referral is detailed below;

• Are aged over 18
• Not pregnant at referral
• Blood glucose level in the past 24 months that indicates prediabetes (HbA1c 42-47mmol/mol; FPG 5.5 – 6.9mmol/l)
• No subsequent diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

Developing a new Respiratory Service for Barnsley – Find out more and have your say on our proposals by Sunday 13 September 2020 24/8/2020

The CCG wants to change the way care is provided for adults with respiratory conditions and want to hear your views on our proposals.

What is the current service like? 

The respiratory services in Barnsley are run by Barnsley Hospital and you will generally be seen by the team at the hospital. You might have heard it called the BREATHE service. The current BREATHE service is for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well as people who need oxygen at home.

What are the plans for the new service and who is it for?

The plan is for the BREATHE team to come to your home, or for you to visit them at a clinic which is near where you live. It would be called BREATHE in the Community.

This service will be for:

• People with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• People who need oxygen at home, nebuliser assessment and early supported discharge from hospital.
• People who experience breathlessness due to pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI), long term chronic respiratory illness, cancer where you need support at the end of life).
• People who are receiving respiratory rehabilitation

The BREATHE in the Community service is not for people who have heart failure, an acute chest infection, or those receiving pulmonary rehabilitation (which will remain unaffected). There are other services in place to support these people.

We are expanding the service for people in the community so that more people can benefit from specialist care in their own home or local to where they live. If you needed a stay in hospital this would still be available. The current service is coming to the end of its contract and we are using this as an opportunity to review and make any necessary changes to it. 

We are proposing that BREATHE in the Community will be delivered by the specialist team in a clinic local to where you live, or in most cases in your home. The specialist team will include nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals. This approach will mean fewer people need to travel to, or stay, in hospital.

What have we done so far?

So far we have looked at national best practice and spoken to local health professionals about what they think. We have received feedback from people living in Barnsley about their experience of using services and what they would like to see offered in the future. From this we have a picture of how people, their parents/carers, and professionals would like to see health services delivered. 

We plan for the new joined up services to start in April 2021.

How you can have your say

To find out more about our proposals for the new service and how you can have your say, please visit our website here or call Lucy Hinchliffe – Contract and Commissioning Support Manager for NHS Barnsley CCG on 01226 433738 or email us at barnccg.comms@nhs.net

To receive the survey in a different format (e.g. for a paper copy) please call Lucy Hinchliffe – Contract and Commissioning Support Manager for NHS Barnsley CCG on 01226 433738 or email us at barnccg.comms@nhs.net

If you would like further opportunities to be involved with developing this service – through a focus group and/or being part of a panel please call Lucy Hinchliffe – Contract and Commissioning Support Manager for NHS Barnsley CCG on 01226 433738 or email us at barnccg.comms@nhs.net

Please note that the closing date for feedback is Sunday 13 September 2020. On behalf of NHS Barnsley CCG, thank you for your input into this work. 

Scheduled South Yorkshire Mobile Testing Unit deployments 20 – 31 August 2020  20/8/2020

Please see the attached schedule for South Yorkshire mobile testing deployments for 20 - 31 August. No changes to the schedule anticipated up to Monday 31 August 2020 except confirmation of sites not yet confirmed.

Podiatry referrals via ERS 20/8/2020

Due to COVID-19 the majority of General Podiatry and biomechanics EBS slots have been suspended.  Please send all referrals for General Podiatry and biomechanics via New St General Podiatry where they will receive a telephone triage appointment.  Paediatric biomechanics for children between 4 and 12 years is still Face to face at Kendray.  Nail Surgery referrals can still be booked into Nail surgery EBS slots and will have initial assessment by telephone.

General Practice Fellowship Programme and Supporting Mentors scheme launched 17/8/2020

Guidance and information on two schemes which were announced in the Update to the GP Contract agreement 2020/21–2023/24 are now available, forming part of a suite of interlocking GP recruitment and retention initiatives.

The General Practice Fellowship programme is a two-year programme of support, available to all newly-qualified GPs and nurses working substantively in general practice, with a focus on working in a Primary Care Network (PCN).

The programme supports nurses and GPs to take up substantive roles, understand the context they are working in and become embedded in the PCN. The first stage of the offer was launched in the latter part of 2019/20, with the enhanced 2020/21 offer being delayed from 1 April to August to respect local capacity needed in relation to COVID-19.

The Supporting Mentors Scheme is designed to upskill experienced GPs and provide a portfolio working opportunity. The vision is for systems to develop and access a cohort of locally based and highly experienced doctors to support their own more junior doctors.

GP mentors will be able to connect with newly qualified doctors on the GP Fellowships programme and to support them embed into the local general practice environment and become an integral part of the local primary care team. 

New project aimed at young women  - Run It 13/8/2020

“Run It” is an 8 week course aimed at girls and women 18-25 in Barnsley. This is a fully funded course in collaboration with Street Games and Barnsley Council, and we have places for up to 20 young women.  

The course is aimed at those who would love to complete a 5k in 8 weeks but aren’t sure it’s possible.

It mixes everything they need to start running physically, with everything they need to keep going from a mindset perspective. Each week participants will have a training plan to follow themselves, either alone, with family or in small groups (sticking to Government guidance at the time), and an online mindset training session focusing on a different topic each week (including Growth Mindset, Habits, Motivation, Goal-setting and Milestones). 

All the messages in the mindset sessions are things they can learn through running to take with them into other areas of their lives. The secret is that it isn’t really about running. It is about learning that you can do more than you thought you could, which is something that can feed into every other aspect of your life once you’ve learned it.   

Our aim is to engage all those who participate in the course in the whole 8 weeks, and for them to complete a 5k by the end of the Summer. To encourage them working with others, if they sign up with a friend, they will each receive a free water bottle. If they complete the course, they will receive a free T-shirt.

A short intro from Nat one of the instructors https://youtu.be/E9PPfib9sLs

BRILS (Barnsley and Rotherham Integrated Laboratory Services) Automation Replacement Programme 2020 13/8/2020

The BRILS service has provided their latest update for primary care colleagues on the changes to their services. The attached bulletin (3) includes information on upcoming down time as well as progress on the new developments. 

Expanding the Primary Care workforce in 2020/21 13/8/2020

On 11 August 2020, NHSE released a letter detailing how it plans to expand the primary care workforce in 2020/21. Further details and the letter can be found attached (2) or accessed here.

Scheduled South Yorkshire Mobile Testing Unit deployments: 10 – 17 August 10/8/2020

Details of mobile testing unit deployments for 10th to 17th August are attached. 

COVID-19 PCR antigen swab testing 10/8/2020

An issue has been raised regarding individuals being recommended by their GP to get tested (e.g. respiratory symptoms) who have been told they can’t access a test unless they have the classic Covid symptoms of high temp, cough or loss of taste/smell. You can definitely get a test in Barnsley (County Way) or get sent a home kit (day1-4) if no symptoms, but GP has ‘cause for concern’.

Please direct patients to: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, there is an option – ‘I live, work or study in a local council area where they are testing people who do not have symptoms’ 

If they are calling 119 – tell them to say “I have been recommended for a test as my GP has ‘cause for concern’ and Barnsley are testing people who do not have symptoms”.

If any practices experience any further difficulties accessing a test please contact the CCG Primary Care team at: BarnsleyCCG.primarycare@nhs.net

Scheduled South Yorkshire Mobile Testing Unit deployments: 6 – 17 August 6/8/2020

Please see the attached list of mobile testing deployments

Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) – Exercise on Referral Programmes Recommencing  6/8/2020

Barnsley Premier Leisure reopened its leisure centres on 25 July and will recommence the delivery of the two exercise on referral programmes (Wellbeing Service and Get Fit First) from Monday 10 August. 

In line with social distancing measures amendments have been to the 1:1 contact sessions that patients have with advisors as part of the programme:

• Patients will only have face to face contact time at weeks 1 and 12 with the remaining contact points being held over the phone.
• Patient will be asked to self-monitor and report their weight over the programme (weeks 2 -11)
• Patients will be asked to wear face coverings for these face to face consultations and equipment will be sanitised prior to and after use.
• Patients will be required to book all sessions in advance (gym and pool) for track and trace purposes as well as capacity management.

Referrals can be made to both programmes by completing the BPL Referral Form (which is also saved in clinical systems) and emailing the completed form to bpl.hrs@nhs.net

Barnsley Recovery College – Prospectus Sept – Dec 2020  6/8/2020

After a few very uncertain months, Barnsley Recovery College is finally ready to open its doors again in September and the prospectus (attachment 2) is ready for launch.

Barnsley Recovery College has courses and workshops on offer until Christmas 2020, and will be reviewing it again in the new year and hope to be able to offer a wider range of options.  The gym is opening up again too, but just on a one to one basis at the moment.

Barnsley Recovery College are only offering a limited number of places on each course due to current restrictions, therefore places may fill up quite quickly.  Please also take time to familiarise yourselves with the new rules.

Barnsley Recovery College launched a new website this week, please take a look:  http://www.barnsleyrecoverycollege.nhs.uk/home/  Also you can learn more about courses, volunteering and enrolling here: http://www.barnsleyrecoverycollege.nhs.uk/courses-and-enrolment/enrolment/

Please feel free to share to whoever you think will benefit.

The National Flu Immunisation Programme 2020 to 2021- update 6/8/2020

Please see letter (attachment 1) with details of an update to the National Flu Immunisation Programme for 2020-21.

Scheduled South Yorkshire Mobile Testing Unit deployments: 3 - 9 August 3/8/2020

See attached for details of mobile testing for 3rd to 9th August 2020.

COVID-19 Blue Clinic 3/8/2020

The Blue Clinic, operated by Barnsley Healthcare Federation, has supported GP surgeries, Out of Hours and the patients of Barnsley by offering a safe location for patients diagnosed with or suffering from symptoms of COVID-19 to be assessed face to face.  The clinical and administrative staff within the clinic have performed extremely well in a difficult environment. I hope that you have felt and continue to feel the the benefit of having this service operating within Barnsley. 

In line with the current progression of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Blue Clinic will be reducing the operating hours from 10:00 – 22:00 7 days a week to 14:00 – 22:00      7 days a week from Monday 3 August 2020.

The method of referring a patient will remain the same; a full triage completed by a clinical member of staff and a referral form generated and sent to barnsleyccg.iheart365@nhs.net.  Please be aware that we will not action or respond to a referral until 14:00 when the clinic opens. 

With this in mind, GP or ACP must ensure that the patient is safe to wait until the Blue Clinic opens at 14:00 before referring a patient.  BHF GP and Home Visiting Service will still complete home visits and face to face appointments as required following a referral to our service. ​

Flu Vaccination Update 3/8/2020

We note that the communication within the primary care bulletin on 20 July relating to conversations at the Barnsley Wide Flu Planning Group regarding 10 minute bookable appointments may have caused concern for practices regarding delivery.

We would like to clarify that whilst a discussion did take place around practices potentially needing longer appointments to deliver flu vaccinations this year taking into account PPE and social distancing, there was not a consensus that practices should deliver 10 minute bookable appointments, but rather that practices should begin to consider how they would deliver their vaccination programme taking account of the variable constraints across GP practices. 

There was a press release on Friday https://www.gov.uk/government/news/most-comprehensive-flu-programme-in-uk-history-will-be-rolled-out-this-winter which references an increased programme and expansion of eligible cohorts however we are still awaiting the associated guidance for the delivery of flu vaccinations and we will share this detailed guidance once available. Until this time we encourage practices to continue planning for their flu clinics and apologise for any confusion that the statement has made.

Doctorlink Improvements  30/7/2020

Since 10 July 2020 Doctorlink have released several updates to the algorithms that underpin both symptom assessment and routine appointments. The most significant changes that practices should have noticed are as follows - 

Free Text Boxes - As a result of your feedback, Doctorlink have provided free text boxes for patients to give more information so practices can triage them. Therefore, for an ANA (assessment not available) outcome or a routine appointment request for an unknown reason, patients will be required to provide more details. As a result, practices will no longer get requests for appointments without enough information to get that patient to the right care. 

Possible Cancer Conclusions - Customer feedback indicated that some patients found the listing of cancer as a potential cause of their symptoms distressing. References to cancer have been removed from the lay statement shown to patients but are still present in the dispositions sent to practices. Doctorlink also removed technical references to cancer investigations and NICE guidance.

Algorithm Enhancements - There have been 79 updates and changes to the current algorithms and associated logic. Doctorlink have added algorithms to improve functionality for ear problems, dizziness, and Stroke. They have enhanced their mental health algorithms and improved the information provided to patients with common mental health conditions. Patients can also request a flu vaccination from within the routine / non-urgent appointments section.

Safeguarding – They have expanded their safeguarding functionality to include animal and human bites, children presenting with genital blisters, and poisoning or overdose. Doctorlink has also updated content and definitions to meet the latest changes in NICE and NHS England guidelines. 

Positive results –

The changes noted above have already resulted in positives, for example, Doctorlink has recorded;

• A 38% reduction in 1 hour dispositions
• A 15% reduction in 4 hour dispositions

Care Homes & other units 30/7/2020 

DOAC monitoring emis template v1 30/7/2020

COVID-19 PCR swab testing  27/7/2020

The Covid 19 PCR swab testing facility at Barnsley Hospital has now been stood down for community/primary care staff.

 You can ask for a test to check if you have COVID-19 (coronavirus):

• for yourself - if you have coronavirus symptoms:
• a high temperature;
• a new, continuous cough; or
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms

When to apply for a test

You need to have the test within the first five days of having symptoms. It's best to ask for the test within the first three days as it may take a day or two to arrange.

 What the test involves

The test usually involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud. You can do the swab yourself or someone can do it for you

How to ask for a test

You can ask for a test to check if you have coronavirus on the NHS website: Ask for a coronavirus test on NHS.UK

If you are not able to access the internet to request a test you can call 119 instead.

This service is for everyone, but priority tests are available for:

• essential workers, including NHS or social care staff
• residents and staff of your care home
• if you have a verification code from your employer​

https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers

When requesting a test you'll be asked:

• for details such as your name, mobile phone number and address;
• how you want to get the test – you might be able to choose between driving to a regional testing site or getting a home test kit.

If you (or the patient) is unable to access a drive through testing site, there is an option to request a home testing kit that will be delivered to their home address.

If you or the patient is unable to take a self-swab, then please contact Rightcare Barnsley by telephone who will be able to provide further details regarding how to arrange a test.  The telephone number is 01226 431333.

Walk-in mobile testing units

If you don't have coronavirus symptoms, but are concerned, you can still have a test at a walk-in mobile testing unit.

Find out more about the walk-in mobile testing units, including when and where tests are available.

COVID-19 test results are now being automatically sent to GP systems 27/7/2020

NHS Digital has announced that COVID-19 test results are now being automatically sent to GP systems as well as being communicated to patients, giving GPs visibility of which of their patients have had COVID-19 tests and whether they have tested positive or negative for the virus.

Patients who use online patient services such as the NHS App and who have requested full access to their GP medical records will now be able to access their results themselves, as well as receiving their results via communication from the NHS Business Service Authority as before.

Supporting GP practices who are in the process of implementing or looking to implement remote consultations and digital triage

Care Homes & other units 27/7/2020

Please could practices inform us of any homes or units they cover, apart from Care Homes (including LD &MH homes). We will then pass this information on to the BDM’s for inclusion in the Care Homes alignment work stream. 

We would be grateful if practices could send this information to the Primary Care Inbox; barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net.

Diabetes Prevention Programme - Self-Referral Launch July 2020 27/7/2020

People who are at high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes will be fast-tracked into the flagship Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced today.  People can find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by using the ‘Know Your Risk Tool’ and be sign posted to their local Provider If their score comes back as moderate or high, they will now be able to refer themselves to a local Healthier You service for support remotely or online, without having to go through a healthcare professional.  Please click here to be taken to the Know Your Risk Tool or copy and paste the following link into your web browser https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “The evidence is now in: obesity can double your chance of dying from coronavirus. So this pandemic is a call to arms to adopt medically-proven changes in what we eat and how we exercise. That's why the NHS is going to accelerate its offer to help, including through wide uptake of our Diabetes Prevention Programme which helps people shift the pounds, avoid Type 2 diabetes, and also slash the risk of severe coronavirus."

Those who qualify will be able to choose how they complete the programme, either by joining group sessions by video link or telephone with an experienced coach or through digital support, which includes online peer support groups and in some areas, wearable tech.

Please note this is in addition to practices or other organisations still able to refer patients to the programme too but aiming to increase uptake.

Launch of the Neck Lump Pathway – Monday 27 July  27/7/2020

The Head and Neck Clinical Delivery Group have been working with the Cancer Alliance to plan and lead the delivery of improved outcomes for patients locally, one of their deliverables is to ensure full implementation of the new cancer waiting times system ahead of the introduction of a new 28 day Early Diagnosis Standard in 2020. 

We will be launching the New Neck lump pathway for patients who present with neck lumps who have no other symptoms and do not present as high suspicion of cancer on: Monday 27 July 2020  (Please See attached GP Communications, SOP and Patient Information)

Scheduled South Yorkshire Mobile Testing Unit deployments up to 31 July 23/7/2020

South Yorkshire MTU deployments			Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.	CONFIRMED
Key:	Barnsley	Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.	OPS LOCKED
Doncaster	Site is tentative and subject to change.	TENTATIVE
Rotherham
Sheffield	Deployments in italics with an asterisk* are additional MTU capacity released under the Enhanced Testing Strategy

Day	Date	District	Site address	Confirmed
Thursday	23-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Barnsley*	Hoyland West Street, Hoyland, S74 9AG	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham*	Herringthorpe Athletics Stadium, Middle Lane South, Rotherham S65 2HR	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Friday	24-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Barnsley*	Station Road, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 0BA	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham*	Herringthorpe Athletics Stadium, Middle Lane South, Rotherham S65 2HR	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Saturday	25-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham*	Herringthorpe Athletics Stadium, Middle Lane South, Rotherham S65 2HR	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Sunday	26-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham*	Herringthorpe Athletics Stadium, Middle Lane South, Rotherham S65 2HR	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Monday	27-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Tuesday	28-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Wednesday	29-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Thursday	30-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Friday	31-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	Bus Depot, Midland Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 1TF	OPS LOCKED
		Sheffield	Olympic Legacy Park Car Park off B6085, Worksop Road, S9 3TL	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB

Barnsley Hospital - electronic discharge letters 23/7/2020

As some of you may be aware, Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust has undergone a significant transition in the delivery of its ICT services. The incumbent EPR (Electronic Programme Record), Lorenzo, has been forcibly removed from the Trust in order to make way for Medway, a generational leap forward in terms of performance, reliability and user interface.

As one may expect of the implementation of anything so complex and so fundamental to the digital health and operational functioning of the hospital, there have been a few downstream systems that have required further optimisation following the successful Go-Live on 11^th July. These systems include ICE which has seen a delay in the transmission of completed discharge summaries to primary care. Normal service has now been resumed for the vast majority of submitted discharge summaries. Importantly, any delayed discharge summaries have been retrospectively re-submitted to primary care.

There remain a tiny number of discharge summaries that have not propagated through to the GP systems. This issue is being actively investigated by Clinical Systems and System C as a clinical priority.  Please do not hesitate to contact either Paul White at: paulwhite6@nhs.net  or the Clinical Systems team at: bhnft.clinicalsystems@nhs.net  if important clinical information is required, and they will make immediate provisions for the information to be made available to you via other channels of communication. 

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Flu planning update 20/7/2020

The Barnsley-wide flu planning group met today. There are a number of conversations being picked up this week in relation to the planning practices are doing, including care homes. It’s clear that some of the questions and issues raised will be on your radar too, so we wanted to share a couple of points with you.

• Cohorts - To note, we still haven’t had the guidance/ask on a potential wider cohort.
• Care homes - Conversations are taking place this week to see how we can best work with care homes. This takes into account issues around: a reduction in footfall required for care homes; practices with multiple care homes and the co-ordination of that, linked to; the readiness of care homes; the role of neighbourhood nursing; noting the financial implications for practices of any joint working.
• Clinic times – the consensus was that these will be bookable appointments, no drop-ins, and appointment times are likely to be 10 minutes, rather than the usual 2 minutes. It’s likely that more clinics will be needed to accommodate the change in timing and the physical logistics of some sites.
• Reports - The reports from the intelligence team (what was Embed) on the under 65 cohorts are required as soon as to support planning.

Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Sheffield (BBS) IT Service Newsletter and Self Service Guide  20/7/2020

Please find attached the first edition of the Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Sheffield IT Service Newsletter and the BBS IT Self Service Guide – Contact Clinical Apps.

If you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding any of the information provided, please let us know.

Clinical Applications & Data Quality Support Team, BBS IT Services, NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, 722 Prince of Wales Road, S9 4EU

Password Resets:- https://password.sheffield.nhs.uk

Self Service Portal:- https://servicedesk.sheffield.nhs.uk

Temporary Expansion of APC Reporting  20/7/2020

Area Prescribing Committee (APC ) Reporting is a process where medicines related issues which occur across the Provider interface(s) are able to be reported and resolved. This process is additional to (does not replace) the organisational incident reporting processes.

Due to COVID 19 service changes which are happening,  it has been agreed to temporarily expand  this process to capture the wider reporting of clinical interface issues; as it a process which has clinician oversight , engagement across all Providers and is well understood by services.

Clinicians from all/any Barnsley Provider Services are now encouraged to report  problems/issues which they experience at any (local or SY&B or wider) Provider interface.

Clinicians can report issues by email to: BarnsleyAPCReport@nhs.net 

Antibody Testing for Health Care Staff  20/7/2020Temporary Expansion of APC Reporting  20/7/2020

Please be aware that results are taking at least 2 weeks to come back at the moment and in many cases this has been much longer.  Staff members registered GP may be able to access your result from the ICE system at their GP practice. 

Staff should also get a text to the mobile number they have provided, but there is currently a backlog of results that need sending out.   We are currently trying to address this situation with the labs as a matter of urgency. 

Please also be aware that community health care staff, such as pharmacies, dental and optometry staff, are currently being offered testing for Covid19 antibodies and the results are being shared with their registered GP via ICE.  You may have staff requesting their result – since you have not requested the test, you may need to download results directly from ICE. 

Advice and Guidance toolkit for the NHS e-Referral Service  15/7/2020

Advice and Guidance (A&G) services enable secure and rapid communication between primary and secondary care colleagues across a range of specialties. A&G provides one of the three main NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) channels via which a GP may obtain a clinical opinion.

By facilitating access to specialist advice prior to or instead of referral, A&G services help reduce unnecessary outpatient activity and deliver better outcomes for patients.

To help increase the uptake of A&G, the National Elective Care Transformation Programme has made various tools and resources available to GPs via its Community of Practice platform. Please email ECDC-manager@future.nhs.uk for access.

Further support is also available on the Advice and Guidance toolkit for the NHS e-Referral Service webpage.

GP Connect Appointments 15/7/2020

The CCG has been informed that the 1 appointment per 500 patients has now been extended until 30^th September 2020.

Upgrade of Windows 10 1803 to 1909 15/7/2020

BBS IT Services will be starting this work on 20 July 2020 and it is expected to take 10 weeks to roll out to all PCs, although more seldom used PCs or those which experience any errors will take a little longer. See additional information attached.

If at the end of the period you can arrange to have turned on (no need to log in) any PCs which have not been used during the rollout because of social distancing and working from home, that will help us complete the migration.

For further information contact: Karl Thornley, Principal Server Engineer, karl.thornley@nhs.net or telephone 0114 3051201

Teledermatology pilot feedback  15/7/2020

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation in the Teledermatology pilot.  The pilot is due to expire in August and we are currently evaluating the pilot.  Your feedback is an essential part of the evaluation and we would really appreciate your views on the service. 

It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete the questions below from your Practices point of view and your GP’s experience of the service.

Name of Practice and person completing return
Are you using the teledermatology system?
If no can you tell us why you do not use it?
Do you find the web based system easy to use?
What do think are the benefits to your practice of using this service?
What improvements would you make?
What do patients think of the system?
Is the advice from Clinical Partnership clear and accurate?
Would you like to continue using this service?
If the service did not continue how would you  manage these patients?
Would you recommend this system to other practices ?
Are there any additional functions you would like to see?
Do you think this system can be used for training purposes?
Other comments  you want to say about this pilot?

It is a tight deadline but please could you send your responses to me no later than 3pm on Thursday 16 July 2020.

Please do not hesitate to contact Janine Quate, Programme Officer, NHS Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group at janine.quate@nhs.net should you require any further information or clarification.

National Diabetes Prevention Programme 15/7/2020

REED Wellbeing, the Diabetes Prevention Programme Provider, is able to continue provision of the programme via MS Teams (temporarily replacing face to face sessions) so please continue to refer eligible patients.  Eligibility criteria has now been expanded to include patients with an eligible blood test from within the past 24 months (previously 12 months).   The system searches for both System One and EMIS have been amended and re issued to System One practices.

Referrals to the Programme have dropped considerably during the pandemic and it is imperative all eligible patients  should be offered the programme for their long term health benefits, particularly in light of the recent findings that people with diabetes are at a higher risk of Covid-19 - the full article from NHS England is available to read here

For further information please contact: faye.senior@nhs.net or  sarah.clarke85@nhs.net

News: Local mobile testing units now testing people who have no symptoms  13/7/2020

Community walk-in mobile testing units (MTU) are now (from Saturday 10 July) in across South Yorkshire to make it easier for local people to get tested for Coronavirus (COVID-19). This will give a significant boost to local testing capacity – one of the first lines of defence in reducing infections – as well as making it more accessible to more people.

• For a limited time period, people can get a test at these new units even if they have no symptoms.
• No appointment is necessary at the walk-in mobile testing units which are run by armed forces staff as part of the national coronavirus testing programme.
• There will be someone on-site to register everyone onto the NHS Track and Trace portal.
• GP practice and pharmacy colleagues are asked to ensure their teams are aware of this enhanced testing and that they proactively promote it where possible in conversation with patients (particularly pharmacies where the opportunity may arise more).

The Barnsley community MTU has been at County Way in Barnsley town centre from Saturday 11, Sunday 12, and Monday 13 July in the first instance. Further locations and times will be shared by Barnsley Council. Where we can, we’ll also share the upcoming locations with you. The other South Yorkshire councils will be sharing details of their own sites.

If people have symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19), such as a high temperature, a new cough, or a change in sense of taste or smell, they should follow the testing information on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

People with symptoms should not attend walk-in community mobile testing units.

The Barnsley community MTU will be in addition to the existing mobile testing unit at County Way, which is only available for those people displaying symptoms who have a pre-booked test through the NHS test and trace system.

A face covering will need to be worn, and social distancing must also be followed at all times, when at the site and while travelling to and from it.

Barnsley Director of Public Health, Julia Burrows, said:

“Effective testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the first lines of defence in reducing infections. If we can reduce the number of infections across the borough, we will reduce the number of tragic deaths as well as making it safer to continue to re-open the local economy.

“We’re safely providing tests in accessible locations to make it easier for many more people to be tested and I would ask that anybody with even the slightest concern, attends to get a test.

“The quicker we can detect the virus, the quicker we can support those people to isolate and prevent any further spread within the community.

“We’re still living with Coronavirus (COVID-19); it has not gone away. Every one of us can continue to play our role by continuing to adhere to social distancing and regular handwashing, as well as wearing a face covering when outside of the house in enclosed public spaces where it’s harder to maintain social distancing.”

For more information about NHS Test and Trace visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus 

Patient Discharge Leaflets 13/7/2020

Please see the attached Patient discharge leaflets  (leaflet 1 and leaflet 2)  which have been asked to share with GP Practices.  Please note that the information in the leaflets has been superseded by the updated isolation guidance on gov.uk.  However, due to the possibility of recurrent guidance developments, these leaflets will not be updated and any teams that wish to continue using them locally should update and validate them against the most recent advice. /2020

Cervical Screening GP Practice Guide For Information 13/7/2020

Please see attached new GP practice guides for information

• New starter checklist
• Cervical Screening A4 practice guide

Medway Go Live – Electronic Referral System downtime 10/7/2020

This weekend we are migrating to our new PAS system and there will be some down time for ERS over the weekend.

If there is any problem with ERS coming back up on Monday we will let you know.

Teledermatology pilot feedback 10/7/2020

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation in the Teledermatology pilot.

The pilot is due to expire in August and we are currently evaluating the pilot.

Your feedback is an essential part of the evaluation and we would really appreciate your views on the service. 

It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete the questions below from your Practices point of view and your GP’s experience of the service.

Name of Practice and person completing return
Are you using the teledermatology system?
If no can you tell us why you do not use it?
Do you find the web based system easy to use?
What do think are the benefits to your practice of using this service?
What improvements would you make?
What do patients think of the system?
Is the advice from Clinical Partnership clear and accurate?
Would you like to continue using this service?
If the service did not continue how would you  manage these patients?
Would you recommend this system to other practices ?
Are there any additional functions you would like to see?
Do you think this system can be used for training purposes?
Other comments  you want to say about this pilot?

It is a tight deadline but please could you send your responses to me no later than 3pm on Thursday 16^th July 2020.

Please do not hesitate to contact Janine Quate, Programme Officer, NHS Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group at janine.quate@nhs.net should you require any further information or clarification.

Delivering Diabetes Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic – the ‘new normal 10/7/2020

Please see attached updated guidance to support primary care delivering diabetes services during the pandemic which has been sent on behalf of NHS England

i-HEART Extended Hours - Cervical Screening re-start – 19 July 2020 6/7/2020

BHF will be restarting routine cervical screening within the Extended Hours (i-HEART) service from 19 July 2020. The clinics will run every 2 weeks from Chapelfield Medical Centre on a Sunday 11:00am  – 15:00 

BHF will have some new safety measures in place to ensure patient and staff safety in response to the COVID 19 Pandemic.

Please begin to start sending cervical screening referrals to: barnsleyccg.iheartscreening@nhs.net  BHF will ring the patient and book them in for an appointment to suit their availability.

Teledematology Pilot 3/7/2020

Please find attached an update from the provider of the teledermatology pilot, Clinical Partnership. 

New CQRS Local Service 3/7/2020

In addition to improvements to the CQRS National Service (and bringing the service in-house from November), NHSX are developing a new nationally supplied product "CQRS Local" to support payment calculations for locally incentivised services from February 2021, in readiness for live operations from 1 April 2021. 

End user input into the ongoing development of CQRS Local will be invaluable to ensure the end product meets the needs and requirement of future users. NQRS are therefore establishing an End User Working Group for CQRS Local. They would welcome people who have experience of the provider management processes of local enhanced services to put themselves forward to join this group. This maybe clerical staff within GP practices, Practice Managers or Practice Business Managers.

Participation will entail attendance (via Teams) featuring product demonstrations showing how the system would work in practice with live examples. This will provide a platform for end users to feedback their views on how the system could be refined and improved before it’s go-live in April 2021. Meetings will take place once a month for 1-2 hours.”

To find out more information or express your interest in joining this group please contact joanne.byrne13@nhs.net or Robbie.palmer@nhs.net

CCG Governing Body vacancy 3/7/2020

Dr Sudhagar Krishnasamy has recently announced that he is resigning from his position as Medical Director of the CCG effective from August 2020.  Dr Krishnasamy was a founding Governing Body member of Barnsley CCG and he will be greatly missed by all. His departure will create a vacancy for an elected GP on the CCG Governing Body. An election will be organised to fill this vacancy as soon as possible, which will be done virtually rather than by postal ballot in the light of the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Please be on the lookout for further details over the next few days.

Latest BHNFT Outpatient Specialty Position 3/7/2020

The Barnsley Hospital Outpatient Specialty Summary that was originally shared in our tri-weekly update on 3 June (#45) has now been updated to show the position at w/c 29 June 2020.

This is being shared to support the management of patient expectations over the wait for initial consultations.  The attachment gives summary of current service provision and highlights any capacity or long wait issues. We would therefore ask that GPs are mindful of this when making a referral and explain to patients that they may be subject to longer waits than usual.

GP IPC Training 1/7/2020

Get Fit First Policy in the Post COVID19 era 1/7/2020

Stepping down the Paediatric Emergency Surgery Pathway (Covid-19 response) from 22nd June 2020 29/6/2020

The formal agreement has been given by the ICS Health and Care Management Group to step down the paediatric emergency surgery pathway, in place since the 16^th April 2020.  For the last nine weeks 150 children in South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield have successfully been transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital with 82 requiring emergency surgery. 

The pathway was established as part of the Covid-19 response to workforce and hospital capacity concern enabling DGHs to release theatre space and anesthetists to focus on patients presenting with Covid-19.

The data evidence now shows a clear reduction in the number of Covid-19 patients across all acute Trusts since the initial surge and with DGHs starting to resume both emergency and elective surgery, it is considered an appropriate time to step down the pathway.

Please read the attached updated pathway step-down letter for all the details 

Yorkshire & the Humber Diabetes Clinical Network Update: June 2020 29/6/2020

The attached newsletter is packed with information for everyone interested in diabetes care, including:

• Local news and innovations
• Digital information and e-learning for all people with type 1 diabetes – the new national offer and Leeds in the limelight
• East of England Clinical Network Guidance for General Practices for Diabetes Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Details of the new Diabetes Advice Line for those with insulin-treated diabetes
• Update on DIAMONDS – improving diabetes outcomes for people with diabetes and severe mental illness
• Information from Diabetes UK including an ‘Involvement Grant’
• Insulin Safety Week 2020 is taking place July 6^th to 12^th – resources available to support campaign
• ABCD reports from the ADA congress
• JBDS guideline for dealing with glucose-related emergencies at the time of acute hospital admission
• Other news incl. the Quality in Care awards

Mobile Testing 29/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19):- 

Monday	29-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	CONFIRMED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	CONFIRMED
Tuesday	30-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	CONFIRMED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	CONFIRMED
Wednesday	01-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	CONFIRMED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	CONFIRMED
Thursday	02-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Friday	03-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Saturday	04-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED
Sunday	05-Jul-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
		Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	OPS LOCKED

 

BKSB offer to primary care 26/6/2020

On last week’s NHSE webinar, there was lots of interest from Primary Care in the BKSB offer and also some questions about capacity for primary care to manage this.

As a solution to this, Health Education England’s National Primary Care Team has agreed that they will manage the administration and reporting for primary care nationally. You can find the national press release for primary care here - https://haso.skillsforhealth.org.uk/news/functional-skills-learning-in-primary-care-support-funded-by-hee/

If primary care colleagues wish to sign up to BKSB they now just need to email: traininghubs@hee.nhs.uk

They have also produced some specific FAQs for Primary care here: https://haso.skillsforhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020.06.17-Functional-Skills_-Self-directed-learning-in-Primary-Care-FAQs.pdf

 For further information on BKSB please refer to the attached document. 

Postnatal checks 26/6/2020

As we restore critical services, we would like to remind practices of the importance of providing all women with a postnatal GP check at 6-8 weeks.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, women have experienced changes to the provision of maternity and health visiting care, reduced access to community services, changes to birth plans and birth partner policies, and for some, changes to bereavement care. COVID-19 has increased anxiety generally in the population and pregnant women and new parents may be under additional stress due to social isolation, decreased social support, bereavements, financial stresses, changes to healthcare services and limitations on their usual coping strategies. The risks for pregnant women with pre-existing mental health problems will be higher still.

Since 1 April the maternal postnatal check has been part of essential services. The continuation of postnatal checks, new baby checks and childhood vaccinations have been identified as high priority in BMA and RCGP guidance, and should continue regardless of the prevalence of COVID-19 for the duration of the pandemic.

Where the maternal check can be delivered safely on a face to face basis this should continue. Where a check cannot be delivered safely face to face, or where the woman has medical conditions that requires her to shield or socially isolate, the review could be conducted remotely either by video or phone. If there are outstanding issues after this, a face to face appointment could be offered at the same visit to the practice as the infant vaccination appointment. A postnatal check must be offered to mothers who have experienced stillbirth or neonatal death.

While the contract deal agreement for 20/21 sets out high level requirements for what the maternal check should ordinarily cover, we are working to produce best practice guidance for publication in due course, once the NHS has returned to business as usual. 

Pathology Analyser Replacement Project 24/6/2020

Message from the Barnsley Blood Sciences Team

The Blood Sciences services at Barnsley and Rotherham Hospitals are in the process of replacing their main analysers and robotics.  This £3m pound investment in NHS services started last year, but was paused due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With pandemic pressure on the NHS easing, along with easing of government imposed COVID-19 restrictions, the project is now underway again.

During the next major stage of the project, in September and October, we will be removing the robotics at Barnsley Blood Sciences Laboratory. This means that the thousands of samples from across Barnsley and Rotherham that are normally delivered to the bank of analysers by the automation each day, will need to be loaded by hand.  BRILS is taking all possible steps to try to prevent any impact on the services to our users during this period by deploying additional staff. However, this may result in slightly lengthened turnaround times for routine test requests.  Urgent work will be prioritised and we do not anticipate any change to turnaround times for these samples. We aim to maintain a full service for the Hospital, GPs and other healthcare professionals throughout the replacement project. 

Our stated turnaround time for routine GP work is 24 hours, but most tests have results within a couple of hours of receipt in the Lab. The likelihood of any impact on user experience from the analyser replacement programme is very low, but slightly lengthened turnaround times are possible. For routine GP samples, we expect this to be in the order of taking 20 minutes longer to process than normal because of the requirement to manually load these onto the analysers. So if a test normally has a result in say 1 hour 30 mins, it may be 1 hour 50 mins whilst we have no track. We have an additional 8 staff members that have been employed to manually transfer samples, so we are confident that the impact will be minimal, even at peak times. GP samples marked urgent will be prioritised, as they are now. The service level has been planned on routine activity levels from GPs and internally, not on the recently reduced activity due to covid, therefore we are confident that we will still be able to deliver timely test results to GPs, even when activity returns to pre-covid levels.

We aim to maintain a full service for the Hospital, GPs and other healthcare professionals throughout the replacement project.  However, as the various automated instruments are replaced over the coming months, there may be short periods where a slightly increased turnaround times may be experienced. Any impact to the service will be communicated to users in advance.

At the end of this project, anticipated to be completed by October 2020, Barnsley and Rotherham Hospitals will have enhanced the service they provide, due to the installation of state of the art analysers and automation, with additional functionality.

Mental health 24/6/2020

As we move into the ‘restoration and recovery’ phase of the pandemic, mental health services – who since March have made great efforts to maintain, adapt and expand some services where possible – are in the process of restoring back to full capacity. Services will be supported to expand in line with new planned NHS Long Term Plan investment and in anticipation of greater demand relating to the pandemic.

Many services, including adult IAPT services and community mental health services for people of all ages, saw a drop-off in referrals in the early phase of the pandemic, which is why the GP SOP published on 29 May states that “patients should be referred as usual to mental health services”. This is important to note for people of all ages, but especially children and young people, in the context of referral routes via schools not having been available.

We would also like to remind practices of the importance of proactive physical health checks for people with Severe Mental Illnesses (SMI). Practice staff should work proactively with secondary mental health care services to identify which individuals on the SMI register are due a physical health check. Services should engage with eligible individuals to explain the purpose of the check and agree a suitable and safe way for the physical health check to be completed. Where face-to-face checks are not possible, practices should complete elements remotely, where practicable. Reasonable adjustments should be made to accommodate the needs of people with SMI in the completion of checks.

Doctorlink Clinic - Make Doctorlink work for you and your patients 24/6/2020

Doctorlink would like to invite you to a Doctorlink clinic, where practices can learn more about service.

Acknowledging that the current practice engagement methods have been very different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctorlink want to offer some additional support for all practices across all stages of implementation. During the clinic GP practices will be able to:

• Find out more about the Doctorlink system and how it can support you and your patients
• Improve more detailed understanding of how Doctorlink works - Webinar Sessions, moving to Practice Manager, GP Education, PCN/CCG Meetings
• Understand the right set-up for L&SC practices - Differing operational models, practice appointment configuration
• Q&A on any query or additional information required - Troubleshooting issues, providing advice on good practice, issue escalation, lessons learnt
• Monitoring benefits realisation - Reporting stats and case studies

The clinics will run every Wednesday and Thursday at both 12pm & 1pm over the next few months (except 8 & 9 July 2020). The first session will be on Thursday 25th June. To register your interest and highlight any specific topics that you would like to discuss, please contact Jennie Smith on the below contact details by COP the day prior to the clinic.

Jennie Smith: jennie.smith@doctorlink.com / 07864955089

Plain Film Referrals into Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital 24/6/2020

Please note the change in the process at DBTH for Plain Film referrals. This change is supported by Doncaster and Bassetlaw CCGs.

Due to the current situation, DBTH are moving from walk in appointments for plain film x-rays to pre booked 20 minute appointments for the foreseeable future. This is in order to manage patient flow and avoid bottlenecking in the small waiting areas. The department will send letters booking patients in for routine plain film but for all urgent requests, which can be marked as such by GPs on ICE, these will be picked up and the patient will be contacted by telephone to schedule ASAP.

Message from the SWYPFT Children’s Immunisation Team 24/6/2020

 

WE ARE BACK!! Following the suspension of the schools vaccination programmes due to Covid-19 we are so pleased to let you know that the school-age immunisation team for Barnsley will be running clinics for current year 9 pupils from 6th to 24th July across several venues in Barnsley. These routine vaccinations will ensure they are protected against Diphtheria, tetanus and Polio and Meningococcal ACWY.

 

Parents and carer are being advised to ring 01226 438829 to book an appointment between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. For any other enquiries please ring 01226 4338828. This will be promoted on social media and other areas.

 

Maternity Guidance 24/6/2020

Data have been collated from accumulated case reports and series around the world (see, for example, this resource). At the moment, they indicate that women admitted to hospital with COVID-19 have an increased risk of preterm birth (up to 25% in some reports). A significant proportion of these appear to be on account of indicated intervention for deteriorating maternal health, rather than spontaneous preterm birth.

Data from UKOSS, the biggest UK cohort to date, suggest a comparable incidence of preterm birth in the UK population with studies from other countries; however, numbers are still too small to be able to extract a reliable figure. This appendix looks at what can be done to support SBLCBv2’s aim to reduce preterm birth in this new environment

Please see attached guidance in relation to reducing preterm births.

Change of Chlamydia and GC Molecular testing sample containers  24/6/2020

The Microbiology Departments at Barnsley and Rotherham hospitals will be implementing the use of a new analyser for molecular testing of Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HSV from 22 June 2020.

The use of the Hologic Panther is a step forward in molecular testing and will allow them to streamline their service, reduce turnaround times and introduce other molecular testing on site such as Covid-19 and in the near future  Mycoplasma genitalium.

The analyser and assays have been fully validated in the laboratory to ISO15189 standards to ensure the performance is equivalent to their existing analyser, and this will be submitted for UKAS accreditation in the near future. The analyser is well proven, being in use at many laboratories in the UK and worldwide and has excellent reliability and performance reports.

As a result of the above, the labs need to replace all the current Becton Dickinson (BD) sample collection kits and replace them with the new Aptima collection kits for the Hologic Panther analyser.  The Microbiology departments will be contacting GP surgeries shortly to ask them to return their existing stock and sending out the new items with full user instructions.

Please note: the lab is also changing to urine monovette tubes for urine microscopy and culture, the Aptima urine tubes are for Chlamydia testing only.

For further information please refer to the attached documents 2a, 2b, and 2c. Or, if you have any questions regarding this change over, please contact Francesca Carr on 01709 426957

Notification of change to opening hours - Lloyds Pharmacy, Oaks Park Primary Care Centre  22/6/2020

Lloyds Pharmacy at Oaks Park will change its opening hours from 2 September and will be closing at 18:00 every day (previously the pharmacy was open on Wednesday until 20:00).

Psychological First Aid Training 22/6/2020

Staff and volunteers at the forefront of the national COVID-19 response across England can now access a free Psychological First Aid training course.

This free online training has been developed by Public Health England and will equip staff to provide support and recognise people at risk of distress. This follows a globally recommended model for supporting people during emergencies, tailored to the specific challenges of COVID-19. Since the launch of the course on Monday 15 June, more than 8,700 people have already enrolled.

You can access the training materials through the Future Learn website.  

Temporary residents 22/6/2020

NHS England have heard concerns from some commissioners and practices about the significant impact that holiday makers can have on local areas and the difficulties this will bring for general practice.

The current rules on patient registration set out that a practice may register patients as a temporary resident if they are resident in the practice area for more than 24 hours but less than three months. However, given the introduction of total triage and the rapid and widespread increase in use of remote consultations by practices, registering as a temporary resident might no longer be necessary or provide the most appropriate access or care for the patient. Under these circumstances and where it is clinically appropriate to do so, patients may be referred back to their registered practice to be assessed by a clinician who knows the patient and can access their medical record.

Practices may still need to see patients face to face in certain circumstances and therefore register them as a temporary resident.  In addition, all patients, even if not on the practice list and not a temporary resident, must still be provided with primary medical services in core hours for any immediately necessary treatment, which may include medication.

Practices should note that if a patient needs a prescription while away from home, that some (not all) prescribing systems allow a prescription to be sent to another pharmacy as a ‘one off’. Further information on NHS Digital's website. 

Access to Read only SWYPFT Mental Health Record 22/6/2020

Please see message below from Dr Caroline Taylor (Beechwood Practice, Halifax, also works for Calderdale CCG) regarding access to records:

SWYFT mental health records can now be read in exactly the same way as District Nursing and other community team records. Hurray!!

This facility is currently only available until 30/9/20 as part of the covid19 response but hopefully it will prove very useful and the IG sorted out to enable it to be made permanent.

Emis practices will have this through third party access as they do for Cerner and CHFT community teams. I have checked with SWYPFT and this is turned on for all EMIS practices so if you can’t see it then it is likely to be a problem with practice settings.

Systmone practices will simply find the SWYPFT entries to be part of the patient’s chronological records.

All historical records can be seen on S1 and so it can be difficult to focus in on what you are looking for/would be helpful.

I have started using the tabbed journal to solve this.

To create a Mental Health specific tab on the tabbed journal that will remain part of your S1 view permanently follow the steps below:

Tabbed journal on clinical tree

Click + on right of list of tabs

Select Events recorded by organisations of type

Click on Mental Health and move it to the included side

Choose a tab name - and icon if you like – at the top of the page

Click OK at the bottom

This creates a MH tab that filters all SWYPFT contacts out away from all your own entries on S1.

If you have any problems working out how to find the read only records just let me know and I will put you in touch with the IT people who can help.

I am also working with SWYPFT on a plan to roll out tasking across the organisation which will be another step forward in improving communication between primary and secondary care. This will be linked to a new, improved, shorter and much easier to complete SPA referral form. I will keep you posted.

Please can you feedback to me some case studies where being able to read SWYPFT’s records has improved patient care so that I can build a compelling case for being able to continue with this.

Thanks very much – hope you find it as revolutionary as I do!

Dr Caroline Taylor (caroline.taylor59@nhs.net )

Electronic Repeat Dispensing (ERD) – NEY Programme Extension 22/6/2020

Please find attached a letter from NHS Improvement (17 June 2020) detailing the extension of their offer to support, through to mid-July, for practices to appropriately increase their levels of ERD. As part of this package of support a series of letters will be issued directly to GP practices.

We do appreciate that COVID 19 has significantly reduced numbers of patients who would be considered stable enough to be appropriately set up on ERD; due to reduced ability of practices to undertake necessary drug monitoring and structured medication reviews. Therefore please also refer to the attached local guidance (previously issued) regarding appropriate ERD implementation.

DES Minor Surgery and Learning Disabilities Payments 22/6/2020

You may remember in the letter dated 19^th March 2020 from Dr Nikita Kanani and Ed Waller, there was a commitment made to protect practice income “we will make sure that funding does not influence clinical decision making by ensuring that all GP practices in 2020/21 continue to be paid at rates that assume they would have continued to perform at the same levels from the beginning of the outbreak as they had done previously, including for the purposes of QOF, DES and LES payments”

Within North East & Yorkshire NHS England have agreed that the Q1 and Q2 payments for minor surgery will be paid to practices based on an average of Q4 2018/19 and Q1-3 2019/20.  This decision has been made in advance of national guidance with the objective of ensuring payments to practices are not interrupted.  We are looking to make the following payments for DES schemes:

• Q1 Minor Surgery payments will be made in July 2020 and Q2 minor surgery payments will be made in October 2020.  Both will be based on your average activity for Q4 18/19 and Q1-3 19/20. 
• Learning Disabilities DES has not been suspended therefore practices should continue to offer this service proactively to patients and payments for this service will be based on actuals rather than historical/average payments.

The minor surgery DES will be paid this way until the end of September when the letter of 19^th March indicated that annual reviews may re-commence, however we will review this over the summer or if superseded by further national guidance.  If you are still undertaking Minor Surgery activity, this information should be recorded and retained by the practice but not submitted pending a potential future reconciliation.

Primary Care Online and Video Consultation Offer of Support 22/6/2020

Practices are being offered add itional support to help maximise the use of digital tools. The offer is fully funded and will be tailored to meet your specific needs. Please see attached letter and form  for further information and note the revised extended deadline of 26 June 2020.   

PCR and Antibody testing 19/6/2020 

Please find attached FAQ document produced by STH that practices may find useful. 

Resumption of optical services 19/6/2020

A letter has been published setting out the next steps for delivery of NHS optical services in England along with a Standard Operating Procedure for optometry. Working with professional representative groups, we have consensus on the ambition to commence reopening services. We support the full resumption of routine General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) in a way that is safe, and where practices assess that they have the necessary infection prevention and control (IPC) and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements in place. 

Children’s hospital restarts elective surgeries this week 19/6/2020

Sheffield Children’s Hospital is restarting its elective surgeries and procedures this week, after a three month pause in response to COVID-19.

The hospital has continued to do emergency surgery throughout, but less urgent work had been put on hold. The bookings team has already started to confirm new bookings and the first surgeries will take place on Wednesday, June 17.

New processes are in place to protect children coming into surgery, including additional cleaning, the use of more protective equipment, social distancing – including in waiting rooms and bed bays – and the testing of every child two or three days before their admission.

The intention is to see a small number of patients initially, and gradually increase over the coming weeks. Patients that need care most urgently are being prioritised.

Sheffield Children’s has a range of resources available to help explain the new processes to children and their families. A new section of the Trust’s website includes videos explaining ways the hospital is keeping families safe and the new surgery processes, a comprehensive FAQ about surgery and materials to show what personal protective equipment (PPE) staff will be wearing. Children can even download and print their own cut out PPE dolls! This is in addition to all the usual information on the website to support families coming in for surgery, including Sheffield Children’s dedicated Little Journey app, which helps children prepare for their visit through interactive photos and videos and checklists. Everything can be found here - https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/patients-and-parents/theatre-admissions-unit/

To help keep patients safe, families will be asked to isolate for 14 days before their child’s surgery. This is to help patients avoid catching COVID-19, protecting other patients and also avoiding any impact on their own surgery and recovery. The Children’s Hospital Charity has created a special activity pack to help keep children entertained over those 14 days.

Patients will also be asked to come for a COVID-19 test around three days before the surgery takes place. This will take place at the Sheffield Children’s drive-through testing hub or a clinic. Families will be called to arrange a date for this and staff will explain what will happen and provide directions.

For more information about Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, please visit the website here: https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/coronavirus-hub/ 

Mobile Testing 19/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19):-

Friday	19-Jun-20		Rotherham		AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ					CONFIRMED
			Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					CONFIRMED
Saturday	20-Jun-20		Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					OPS LOCKED
			Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					CONFIRMED
Sunday	21-Jun-20		Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					OPS LOCKED
			Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					CONFIRMED
Monday	22-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Rotherham		AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ					TENTATIVE
Tuesday	23-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Rotherham		AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ					TENTATIVE
			Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					TENTATIVE
Wednesday	24-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Rotherham		AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ					TENTATIVE
			Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					TENTATIVE
Thursday	25-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Rotherham		AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ					TENTATIVE
			Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					TENTATIVE
Friday	26-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Rotherham		AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ					TENTATIVE
Saturday	27-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					TENTATIVE
Sunday	28-Jun-20		Barnsley		Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW					TENTATIVE
			Doncaster		Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB					TENTATIVE
Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.							CONFIRMED
Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.							OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.							TENTATIVE
Site has been requested from DHSC.							REQUESTED

NHS Volunteer Responders ready to help health and care frontline staff  15/6/2020

Health and care staff working in frontline services can now get help with essential tasks such as shopping and collecting prescriptions from NHS Volunteer Responders. Access to this service will help staff working at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic so that they can continue to support those most in need at this time.

Anyone working in frontline services can ask for help from NHS Volunteer Responders by calling 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm). When requesting support, staff will need to provide an email address, which should ideally be their work email address. It’s quick and easy to request support.

Mobile Testing 15/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit:- 

Day	Date	District	Site address	Confirmed
Monday	15-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	CONFIRMED
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
Tuesday	16-Jun-20	Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	CONFIRMED
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
Wednesday	17-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	OPS LOCKED
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Thursday	18-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	OPS LOCKED
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Friday	19-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	TENTATIVE
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE
Saturday	20-Jun-20	Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	TENTATIVE
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE
Sunday	21-Jun-20	Doncaster	Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, S64 0LB	TENTATIVE
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE

 

Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.	CONFIRMED
Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.	OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.	TENTATIVE
Site has been requested from DHSC.	REQUESTED

 

COVID-19: Reviewing High Risk (Shielding) Patients 15/6/2020

The latest Shielded Patient List (SPL) data  has been processed and added to the clinical systems. This latest SPL cohort is collectively referred to as SPL10.

As with previous updates, SPL10 includes both patient additions and patient subtractions. New additions have been identified centrally by NHS Digital and NHS England, and these patients will be contacted by NHS England; practices do not need to contact these patients unless clinical review indicates that they should be considered as either moderate- or low-risk instead.

SPL10 additions:

The approved high-risk code will be added to any patient identified as an SPL addition in this update (this is so that GP systems are in-sync with the national SPL), this may be backdated to reflect the date that the patient was identified as being in the high-risk category

These patients should be clinically reviewed and, if you disagree with the high-risk assessment, they should be coded with either the approved moderate- or low-risk codes - this should only be done alongside discussion with the patient. This action will remove them from the SPL.

SPL10 subtractions:

Patients identified as being subtracted from the SPL in SPL10 will be coded with the appropriate moderate-risk or low-risk code according to the data received from NHS Digital. 

Practices do not need to contact any patient identified as being subtracted from the SPL in this update; it is the responsibility of the consultant removing the patient to make contact and inform the patient of this decision. Similarly, if you recode a patient as moderate- or low-risk then it is your responsibility to inform them.

The EMIS web searches can be found (if you have any patients to populate them) in the folder:

EMIS HEALTH Library: SNOMED Searches: EMIS Clinical Utilities/COVID-19 Patient Management/Patients at high risk of complications from COVID-19 infection

This has updated the previous search and so to identify new patients, practices should then go to the following folder to locate the two new searches:

- EMIS HEALTH: COVID-19 SEARCHES/Shielding patients identified centrally, added 12th June 2020 (SPL10)

- EMIS HEALTH: COVID-19 SEARCHES/ Patients removed from SPL 12th June 2020 (SPL10)

 The SystmOne (TPP) search can be found in the COVID folder:

- LOT 8 High Risk COVID-19 code added 12/06/20, without a more recent Low Risk or Moderate Risk code

For our VISION practice, we have previously contacted the system provider and been informed that the information will be available as soon as possible  and to refer to the Vision front screen blog feed, the Knowledge Base, and the Coronavirus landing page for the latest news.

https://www.cas.mhra.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspx?AlertID=103022​

 If you have any queries please contact Victoria.holmes3@nhs.net, Senior Prescribing Support Technician, MMT

New support package to help manage patients with long-term conditions 15/6/2020

UCLPartners has launched a new package of digital resources and practical support to help primary care teams to continue providing proactive care to patients with long-term conditions during and post COVID-19. The support on offer can help stratify care for patients according to level of risk, using new models of care that are virtual by default, mobilise the wider workforce, draw on digital innovation and support patient self-management. The support package focusses on the management of asthma and COPD, with resources for the management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease being added soon. Dr Matt Kearney, GP and Programme Director for Primary Care Innovation at UCLPartners, explains more about the support package in a new blog. 

NHS Health Checks 15/6/2020

Hallcross will be reinstating NHS Health Checks. They will liaise directly with any practices which come forward to deliver, to reconvene with the health check service. The approach they will take is to understand how the practice will deliver the health check, making sure it will be of the standard required with safety elements in place, etc. We realise there will be variation in practice readiness to continue such activities, so Hallcross will not be actively approaching all practices.

If you intend to undertake NHS Health Checks please contact the service: Abbie Brierley, Tel: 01302 315007 (Direct Dial), Mobile: 07368297065, abbie.brierley@nhs.net

EMIS Health Live - online events  12/6/2020

EMIS Health Live: The New Normal, which is a series of online events and workshops from 13^th – 24^th July. There is a range of topics across healthcare and all sessions are free to attend.

EMIS have announced the first set of sessions, with more to come.

Please see link below for details and to register:

https://www.emishealth.com/news-events/events-and-conferences/emis-health-live-the-new-normal/

Change to Care Homes email addresses 12/6/2020

Care Homes email addresses have changed.

The majority of Care Homes across the Borough have now been set up with secure NHS email accounts. Those without an NHS email account now have a new alternative secure email instead.

Please can GP practices start to use the Care Home new email addresses, as this will now provide you with a secure method to communicate with them. All the Care Homes have been made aware that GP practices have been asked to move to using their new email addresses. Attached is a Care Home distribution list (which can be dragged and dropped into contacts on Outlook only – it will not work in Outlook Web App or NHSmail) and also a Word document listing all of the email addresses that we currently have available.

If you have any queries about the roll out please contact Siobhan Lendzionowski, Lead Commissioning and Transformation Manager at Barnsley CCG on; Siobhan.lendzionowski@nhs.net

Patient Discharge Leaflets 12/6/2020

Please see attached Patient discharge leaflets. 

Mobile Testing 12/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19):

Day	Date	District	Site address	Confirmed
Friday	12-Jun-20
Saturday	13-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Sunday	14-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED

 

Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.	CONFIRMED
Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.	OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.	TENTATIVE

 

Blood Sciences Automation Replacement Project – Information for Users 12/6/2020

The Blood Sciences services at Barnsley and Rotherham Hospitals are in the process of replacing their main analysers and robotics.  This multi-million pound investment in NHS services started last year, but was paused due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  With pandemic pressure on the NHS easing, along with easing of government imposed COVID-19 restrictions, the project is now underway again. (See attached info)

Urine Monovette use in Microbiology 12/6/2020

Microbiology at Barnsley Hospital are planning to change the collection tube for analysis of urine samples from the 1 August 2020.  Please find attached a letter and a fact sheet for information regarding the reasons for  the change and how to use the new system.  A helpful youtube video can be accessed through the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iADHJnMdu0

Consumables can be purchased through NHS Supply chain.

https://my.supplychain.nhs.uk/Catalogue/search?query=KTH123 Monovette urine collection tube 10ml bag of 64

https://my.supplychain.nhs.uk/Catalogue/product/evx033 Sample collection bowl

Any questions regarding this change over please contact Ian Wearmouth or Elizabeth Hughes on 01226 433044 and thank you in anticipation of your support and co-operation.

Pulse Oximetry and remote monitoring (C0445) 12/6/2020

Please see the attached information on Pulse Oximetry and remote monitoring and annex document. 

My Best Life 10/6/2020

My Best Life have been running My Best Life Champions Events for their key referrers to keep in touch, give further opportunity to network, discuss My Best Life, share questions and ultimately ensure that they are supporting referrers and their patients as effectively as possible. 

Due to the restrictions in their work in practices, they are planning to run a virtual event via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 30^th June 1pm. My Best Life plan to share some updates following a recent 3 year review completed by the Service Manager Joe Hall, share some examples of the support they have been offering in light of Covid-19, and answer any questions you may have.

Please contact Natalie Crampton, 07970399427/ 01142900200 or n.crampton@syha.co.uk if you would like to;

• Attend the Virtual Event
• Have any questions or would find any specific information useful during this event

Or,

• If there is anything that My Best Life could do to support you or your patients further

Mobile Testing 10/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19):-

Day	Date	District	Site address	Confirmed
Tuesday	09-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	CONFIRMED
Wednesday	10-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	CONFIRMED
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	CONFIRMED
Thursday	11-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	OPS LOCKED
		Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Friday	12-Jun-20
Saturday	13-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Sunday	14-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED

 

Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.	CONFIRMED
Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.	OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.	TENTATIVE

 

Message from Dr Krishnasamy 10/6/2020

"Dear colleagues,

I started my journey with Barnsley CCG in September 2012. After 7½ years of my CCG leadership journey, I have decided to step down from my Medical Director and Governing Body role. I will also be leaving Royston Group Practice.

I will be working my notice until the end of August ’20. I have decided to step down so that I can concentrate on my work life balance.

Being one of the founding members of this CCG during the consortia days, I remember the struggles we as primary care colleagues had to face 11 years ago in forming this CCG. I am very proud of my journey in terms of where we are and what we have achieved today by improving the health & wellbeing of Barnsley residents.

Some of the achievements like Right Care Barnsley, Pharmacy First, PDA, GP OOH, i-Heart extended hours service, Barnsley Healthcare Federation, home visiting service, primary care network, GP in A&E, AMAC, diabetes service, neighbourhood nursing team, NDPP (National Diabetes Prevention Programme), My Best Life, Working Win, clinical threshold pathways, chairing QPSC (Quality & Patient Safety Committee), clinical senate, and contract meetings with local providers, plus many more, would not have been possible without your help and support.

I would like to thank each and every member of the CCG and my primary care colleagues across Barnsley for your contributions, help & support in discharging my duties over the last 7 ½ years.

I will carry a lot of positive memories with me.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Thank you

SK

Dr.S.Krishnasamy

Medical Director”

Mobile Testing 8/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19):-

Tuesday		09-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW				CONFIRMED
			Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ				CONFIRMED
Wednesday		10-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ				CONFIRMED
			Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW				CONFIRMED
Thursday		11-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ				OPS LOCKED
Friday		12-Jun-20
Saturday		13-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW				OPS LOCKED
Sunday		14-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW				OPS LOCKED
	Key:
	Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.				CONFIRMED
	Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.				OPS LOCKED
	Site is tentative and subject to change.				TENTATIVE
	Site has been requested from DHSC.				REQUESTED

Update on dental services in the North East and Yorkshire 8/6/2020

Following the briefing you received last month, we are writing to you again to provide an update on dental services in the North East and Yorkshire.

As you are aware, since 25 March 2020, NHS dental practices have been providing telephone advice and triage. All dental practices have been responsible for triaging patients who contact the practice seeking access to urgent dental care regardless of whether they are considered ‘regular’ patients of the practice. We have worked with dentists across the Region and have been able to put in place a network of urgent dental centres to ensure that where patients have been triaged for face to face treatment, we are able to provide this.  

On 28 May 2020, the Government announced that dental practices may begin to reopen from 8 June 2020 and start to provide a limited range of face to face treatment, where practices assess that they have the necessary infection prevention control and PPE requirements in place alongside urgent telephone advice and triage currently operating. 

We are actively supporting dentistry across North East and Yorkshire to resume NHS dental services safely and effectively and in accordance with advice set out by the Chief Dental Officer.  Although we will see practices in the Region restart some face to face treatments from Monday 8 June 2020, advice is that the sequencing and scheduling of patients for treatment as services resume should take into account the urgency of needs, the particular unmet needs of vulnerable groups and available capacity to undertake activity. Progression to resumption of the full range of routine dental care will be risk-managed by the individual practice. We anticipate that in resuming services, practices in the North East and Yorkshire will be seeing those with the most urgent issues first and a return to services fully providing routine dental check-ups and hygienist appointments will come later.  Advice for the public explains how services will look different as dentists begin to resume services.  Resumption of services in a similar manner to that which was previously experienced may be dependent on the further easing of COVID-19 control measures.

As we support practices to resume services, urgent dental centres will remain in operation across the region to provide urgent dental treatment particularly where practices have not yet resumed face to face care. Referral to the urgent dental centres remains the same, either via the dental practice or 111.

Advice for the public:

Dental practices will look different as they will be operating in a way that observes COVID-19 social distancing and hygiene rules, as part of measures taken to ensure the safety patients and the dental team alike.

Whilst we are observing social distancing, patients should continue to telephone or email their practice, rather than attending in person without an appointment.

If you have a regular dentist, you should call them as a first step. The dentist will assess your situation over the phone, including giving advice and, if needed, prescriptions for painkillers or antibiotics, or arranging treatment.

If a patient does not have a regular dentist during the COVID-19 outbreak, they can still call any local dental practice as well as visiting 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111 who will provide advice as appropriate.

Out of hours for urgent dental issues the advice still remains to visit 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111. Patients should not be visiting A&E departments or GPs with dental problems.

The range of treatments offered may be different to that being offered prior to 25 March 2020 and may vary from practice to practice. This will depend on the staff and equipment available to the team at the time. The dental team may also be wearing different protective equipment to what you are used to seeing.

Please find attached dental public facing comms developed with the national NHS England Primary Care Comms Team, which you may find helpful to support you with your communications with patients.

• Accessing dental care
• Accessing dental care changes
• Dental care what to expect 

For further information, please contact the NHS England and NHS Improvement local dental teams as follows:

North East and North Cumbria -  England.dentalcne@nhs.net

Yorkshire and Humber – england.yhdentalreturns@nhs.net

NHS Volunteer Responders - supporting patients in primary care and community health 5/6/2020

A new one-page guide sets out the different roles and tasks the NHS Volunteer Responders can do to support your patients. If you work in primary care and community health – including in general practice, community pharmacies and community health services – you can offer your patients the support of an NHS Volunteer Responder. Download the guide for your team and use it to refer patients to the right support now.

IT Services Newsletter 5/6/2020

Please find attached a newsletter from our IT services team which provides as much current information in one place as possible in relation to GP clinical systems including:

• National Changes:

o   GP Connect – changes to 111 and CCAS remote booking.

o   SCR Additional Information

o   GP Contract and Enhanced Service changes

o   Electronic Prescribing (EPS)

• Local Clinical System Developments & Data Quality Updates
• Recently updated and released reports, templates, referral forms and letters
• Any other relevant and useful local information.
• Training Workshops
• Offer of limited EMIS Web and SystmOne training workshops remotely.

• Clinical System Supplier functionality updates

o   SystmOne - eDSM changes, Consent Override, Airmid patient app, EPS functionality changes, Internet S1, virtual Smartcards.

• EMIS Web – EPS4,  remote working, video consultations
• Both clinical systems – clinical reporting, data entry templates, temporary SNOMED-CT coding, letters for patients.

South Yorkshire service for Deaf People with Mental Health Needs 5/6/2020

The service provides an assessment and specific interventions for Deaf people who are experiencing mental health issues. The client’s communication may be unusual which could be over attributed to the Deafness or a lack of language. However it could be as a result of a person’s mental health. The service will work to determine this to prevent misdiagnosis or no diagnosis at all.

Once assessed, mental health interventions will be developed in a format that is meaningful and accessible to each service user. Beyond clinical assessment and management, the service includes educating, advising and supporting other mainstream professionals.

Referrals into this service are made to the local mental health team (include details that the patient is deaf and a request that they are seen by the Deaf mental health team):

Referrals Barnsley via:

Telephone 01226 645000

For advice and further information contact Rebecca Walls on 07770 828452 or rebeccawalls@nhs.net. 

More information can be found at https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/services/south-yorkshire-service-for-deaf-people-with-mental-health-needs-main-page/?doing_wp_cron=1590657700.5261509418487548828125

Please find attached a one page document with further information.

Mobile Testing 3/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19): 

Thursday	04-Jun-20			CONFIRMED
Friday	05-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Saturday	06-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
Sunday	07-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE
Monday	08-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE
Tuesday	09-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE
Wednesday	10-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	TENTATIVE
Thursday	11-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ	TENTATIVE
Friday	12-Jun-20			TENTATIVE
Saturday	13-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE
Sunday	14-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	TENTATIVE

 

Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.					CONFIRMED
Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.					OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.					TENTATIVE
MTU deployment to the site has been requested from DHSC.					REQUESTED

Routine Referrals 3/6/2020

rusts are now accepting routine referrals across all specialties
Over the past couple of weeks, acute trusts have been working together with a view to agreeing a consistent approach to referral management and to enable routine referrals to be made to and held by acute trusts.   We are now able to confirm that Barnsley Hospital, along with others across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, has recommenced accepting routine referrals across all specialties with effect from this week (w/c 1 June).

Any secondary care referrals that were rejected back to primary care in the first phase of the coronavirus response because they were deemed to be routine can now be referred if secondary care input is required i.e. if patients condition has changed or can no longer be managed in the community. This excludes referrals rejected on the grounds of unsuitability.

Please can you read the attached document which contains further information on routine referrals including; how referrals will be managed, managing expectations for patients and detailed information on the Referral Assessment Services and the MSK Service.

Mobile Testing 1/6/2020

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit (This is PVR swabbing for patients with symptoms of Covid19):-

Day	Date	District	Site address			Confirmed
Sunday	31-May-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ			CONFIRMED
Monday	01-Jun-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ			CONFIRMED
Tuesday	02-Jun-20	Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ			CONFIRMED
Wednesday	03-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW			OPS LOCKED
		Rotherham	AESSEAL Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ			OPS LOCKED
Thursday	04-Jun-20
Friday	05-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW			TENTATIVE
Saturday	06-Jun-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW			TENTATIVE
Key:
Site is "locked in" and live on the national booking system.				CONFIRMED
Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.				OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.				TENTATIVE
MTU deployment to the site has been requested from DHSC.				REQUESTED

Antibody testing in Barnsley 1/6/2020

Many of you have asked us about plans for COVID-19 serology testing. Earlier this week, NHS England and Improvement wrote to systems describing how serology testing will be rolled out to both patients and NHS staff. The antibody testing programme will help us understand how the disease spreads. This will work alongside PCR testing which confirms whether or not someone currently has the virus.

The local system is not currently able to make an offer for antibody testing in Barnsley yet, but it is anticipated capacity will become available  very soon.

Practices are asked not to submit any samples (from staff or patients) for testing until further information/guidance is provided. 

Changes to NDPP – Pre-diabetic blood glucose level eligibility extended to 24 months 29/5/2020

Due to the impact of Covid 19, patient eligibility in relation to blood tests has changed until April 2021.

The eligible criteria for a referral are detailed below;

• Are aged over 18
• Not pregnant at referral
• Blood glucose level in the past 24 months that indicates prediabetes (HbA1c 42-47mmol/mol; FPG 5.5 – 6.9mmol/l)
• No subsequent diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

Remote sessions are ongoing and new referrals are welcome.

Please contact sarah.clarke85@nhs.net for any support or queries

Integrated Community Stroke Rehabilitation 29/5/2020

The Integrated Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team launched on Monday 20 April. As per the last update, the service is now able to open to the wider community, and is cognisant there will be a number of patients who have not accessed service recently and as lockdown measures ease, they may start attending GP services.  The service will initially be Monday – Friday, 08.00-20.00. This will be expanded to seven days as recruitment continues.  Please find attached referral form and poster

To enquire further please contact barnsleycommunity.stroketeam@nhs.net or 01226 645434 / 01226 645430​ 

Yorkshire and the Humber Screening and Immunisation Team Update 29/5/2020

Please find attached latest Y&H SIT update:

• COVID-19 update For ACTION

                               Notification of COVID-19 – Reporting to PHE

                               General Case Definition Change

                               National COVID Surveillance reports

• Influenza Season 2019/20: ending the prescribing and supply of antiviral medicines in primary care For ACTION
• General Practice ordering of aTIV adult flu vaccine for those aged 65 and over For ACTION
• Seasonal flu vaccination programme 2020/21 For information
• NHS resources to encourage people to attend routine vaccinations For ACTION
• Maintaining the National Immunisation Programme during the COVID-19 Pandemic For ACTION
• New Birth Registrations For ACTION
• Immunisation training e-learning For information
• Vaccine update, issue 308, May 2020 For information
• Possible Cervical screening text messaging scam For ACTION
• Replacement of the National Cervical Screening call/recall system Urgent For ACTION

LGBT Foundation launches new training academy 27/5/2020

Launching in honour of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Practice Training Academy is an online curriculum of LGBT training modules. This service is for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge and confidence of LGBT inclusion at home, at work and in the community and includes the opportunity to become an accredited Pride in Practice Champion.

Pride in Practice is a nationally recognised LGBT inclusion programme. Having worked for almost a decade with NHS services, Pride in Practice trains and accredits using LGBT Foundation’s grass-roots expertise and community-insight with 45 years’ experience working with over 40,000 people per year and reaching 600,000 people online. 

As our partners invested in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we invite you to be the pioneers of the Pride in Practice Training Academy and founding Pride in Practice Champions as we bring LGBT inclusion expertise to everyone who wants and needs it.

To discuss further and register your organisation, please email the Pride in Practice team: pip@lgbt.foundation

If you are an individual looking for training modules or to become a Pride in Practice Champion, visit the LGBT Foundation website. 

Mental Health Apps to support Children and Young People 27/5/2020

A team across NHSX, NHS Digital, NHS England and NHS Improvement are working to identify a number of digital tools to support children and young people who are experiencing increased mental health needs as a result of COVID-19.

The first supplier to complete the process with the team and show how they meet the requirements identified in respect of the children and young people user group is Healios, for its ThinkNinja app.

Available through the NHS Apps library, Healios is making its ThinkNinja app available to download free of charge to all 10 -18 year olds for the next four months.

The role of the team is not to recommend one tool over another approved tool - ThinkNinja will be joining over 20 existing apps already approved on the Apps library for users to choose from.

NHS England will work with Healios to evaluate the impact of the offer at the end of the four month period. More information about this work is available through this NHSX blog.

1 year and pre-school boosters 27/5/2020

Whilst we appreciate you are busy responding to the COVID-19 situation, it is extremely important that the national immunisation programmes continue to be delivered. In these exceptional circumstances and where there may be a high demand on services, it is important to prioritise time sensitive vaccines for babies, children and pregnant women:

 All routine childhood immunisations offered to babies, infants and pre-school children including first and second MMR dose

• All doses of targeted hepatitis B vaccines for at-risk infants should also be offered in a timely manner
• Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy
• Pneumococcal vaccination for those in risk groups from 2 to 64 years of age and those aged 65 years and over (subject to supplies of PPV23 and clinical prioritisation).

Due to the public health advice on social distancing and shielding, practices are not expected to offer the opportunistic shingles vaccine for those aged 70 years, unless the patient is already in the GP practice for another reason.

Other non-scheduled vaccinations should still be given opportunistically, for example, missing doses of MMR.

Anyone who has had their appointment cancelled as part of the COVID-19 response, should be invited for vaccination as soon as possible.  

Vaccines can still be given providing that those attending for vaccination (including parents and carers) are well, are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or other infections and are not self-isolating because they are contacts of suspected COVID-19 cases.

CQC – Emergency Support Framework 27/5/2020

Although the CQC have paused their routine inspections, their regulatory role and core purpose of keeping people safe has not changed – safety is still priority. The CQC have therefore developed an Emergency Support Framework they will follow during the pandemic.                                                                                                                                                                

The interim approach has a number of elements:

• using and sharing information to target support where it’s needed most
• having open and honest conversations
• taking action to keep people safe and to protect people’s human rights
• capturing and sharing what we do.

Data and intelligence will be monitored as usual by the CQC and if appropriate a practice may be contacted for discussion and to see if any additional support is needed. Please see attached document with the discussion questions for GP practices. Not all practices will be contacted. 

The CQC will use this emergency approach in all health and social care settings registered with CQC during the pandemic, and for a period afterwards.

The emergency support framework is not an inspection, the CQC are not rating performance.

Diabetes Advice Helpline 27/5/2020

NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched a new Diabetes Advice helpline to support people living with insulin-treated diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The helpline offers clinical advice for people who cannot access their usual care teams due to local service disruption.

Please find attached a one page FAQ for local healthcare professionals along with promotional text that can be shared with potential helpline users; including a template letter/email, text and twitter content. 

COVID-19 Antibody Testing Programme 27/5/2020

The government has announced the start of a major new national antibody testing programme, with plans to provide antibody tests to NHS and care staff in England from the end of May.

Clinicians will also be able to request the tests for patients in both hospital and social care settings if they think it’s appropriate.

Please also find attached a letter which outlines the progress of systems to commence antibody testing

Launch of Clipper PPE Portal 27/5/2020

The PPE Portal has been tested with the sector and is now being scaled up nationally over the coming weeks. As part of our national effort to ensure critical PPE continues to be delivered to those on the frontline, GPs and small residential social care services (care homes with 24 beds or fewer) in those areas will be invited to register on the portal by the end of this week. 

Tier 3 Weight Management Service – Vulnerable Patients 27/5/2020

Attached is a document which aims to assist GP’s to identify which obese patients would be classed as vulnerable during Covid-19.  Please indicate this on the referral letter. Patients deemed vulnerable would be treated as a first priority by the weight management service.  

BSARCS (Barnsley Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Services) 22/5/2020

BSARCS (Barnsley Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Services) has launched a new service – LIVECHAT with the aim of reaching out to those people who may be struggling with the impact of sexual harm, rape, sexual assault, previous childhood sexual abuse and who may be feeling isolated during this lockdown period. 

LIVECHAT is for people who haven’t used BSARCS and who don’t have a worker from their team. LIVECHAT can be accessed via their website at www.bsarcs.org.uk where people can type their questions or issues to get a fast written response. The service is confidential and replies are from specialist staff who have worked with all areas of sexual harm.  For further information, please click here    

LIVECHAT will be initially open on Mondays (Except Bank Holidays) from 2pm – 4pm and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am – 12 noon although it is expected that these hours will be expanded in the near future. 

For support outside of these times you can email BSARCS at info@bsarcs.org or call them on 01226 320140.

The following helplines are also available 

24 Hour Mental Health Helpline : 0800 183 0558

Rape Crisis England and Wales : 0808 802 9999

Safeline: 0808 800 5005

Samaritans: 116 123

In an emergency always call 999.

GP contraceptive services for patients to continue during COVID-19 pandemic 22/5/2020

GP practices are reminded that those contraceptive services provided to patients as part of the GP contract essential services should continue to be provided during the current Covid-19 pandemic. In case some women are not getting access to the contraception they need during Covid-19, we wanted to draw your attention to new information on sexual and reproductive health for patients and some further information for professionals. These include adapted guidance for the provision of emergency and routine contraception and abortion during the Covid-19 pandemic. GP contraceptive services for patients to continue during COVID-19 pandemic

NHS expands offer of help to people with diabetes during the coronavirus outbreak  22/5/2020

People living with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of dying with COVID-19 with a third of deaths in England associated with the condition, according to new NHS research. The health service in England has called on people with diabetes to access help available to them, including a new dedicated helpline and online tools to help manage the condition during the outbreak. Due to be published this week, the world-leading studies reveal that people living with type 1 diabetes are at three and a half times the risk, and people living with type 2 are at double the risk of dying in hospital with the virus, compared to people without diabetes.

Primary Care – case studies 20/5/2020

NHSE would like to send a reminder that more broadly, they are looking to showcase the excellent work happening across primary care during COVID-19. They have already received many excellent stories and case studies on how you have been adapting, innovating and working in partnership so please do continue to send them to their communications team: england.primarycare-covidcomms@nhs.net

EPS4 UPDATE 20/5/2020

The CCG is currently working with a couple of its practices to test out EPS4 in a both a System1 and EMIS web practice, this is so we can identify if there is any support/learning required for a Barnsley wide roll-out. Once this has been a tested a Barnsley implementation plan will be shared with practices and pharmacies. (please note EPS4 has not as yet been enabled for the vision practice system) 

What we have learnt so far…

• Nominations: As part of EPS Phase 4 roll out, practices should try and ensure as many patients as possible have a EPS nomination. By having a EPS nomination it will hopefully help reduce patients waiting time, reduce long-term workload  and decrease footfall, into both practices and pharmacies. The medicines management team has provided practices with their list of patients that do not have a nomination, we appreciate these numbers may be large so we would advise to concentrate on those patients with a repeat medicines first. (if you need this list again please contact your MMT technician)
• Managing Patient expectations: We have received feedback from community pharmacy advising us that patients are not allowing pharmacies the time needed to order and process their repeat prescriptions once they have landed in the pharmacy workflow. This is leading to increased footfall and inconvenience for patients -  can practices please support pharmacies by advising patients of the following process; 

We advise that you start to plan for your next supply of repeat prescriptions medicines 7 days before your medicines are due to run out. The GP practice will need at least 48 hours to issue your prescription and up to another 48 hours will be needed by your chosen pharmacy to prepare and obtain your medication, this will also allow for weekends and bank holidays. 

Once we have completed the test sites the CCG will be in touch with both practices and pharmacies to share resources and advise of  EPS4 switch on dates, if you have any queries, concerns  or would like to organise virtual training for your teams please contact janine.lee@nhs.net. 

Bank Holiday 20/5/2020

To confirm, the CCG is NOT expecting practices to open on this upcoming Bank Holiday (25 May 2020).

Patients will be advised to contact i-Heart to book appointments as would be the usual service provided on a bank holiday. 

Branch surgeries  20/5/2020

Please could practices inform the primary care team of any changes to the opening of branch sites. A few months ago we were made aware of some branch surgeries either closing or reducing their opening hours. We want to reassure practices that this is still ok, however, if since notifying us of a closure or change this has been reinstated please can you keep us informed. Thank you. 

My Best Life 20/5/2020

My Best Life are continuing to support patients during this time through telephone and online support. Please make referrals in your usual way.

Additionally the service is aware practices may have vulnerable and isolated patients who you are concerned about during this time. The service is able to phone these patients to check on their wellbeing and offer some verbal support to help them deal with isolation during this period.

If you would like My Best Life  to contact patients please send the patient name and number to the secure email address mybest.life@syha.cjsm.net and use ‘Covid19 support’ in the subject. If these patients have any specific mental health or care needs please refer to Adult Social Care and NHS Mental Health services as normal.  

National Diabetes Prevention Programme – Covid-19 Update  20/5/2020

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic REED Wellbeing have temporarily stopped facilitating face to face sessions in line with national guidance. However the programme is still available to help and support eligible patients aiming to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  

Eligible patients can still benefit from this free programme by contacting REED Wellbeing, whom will explain the current delivery options available and discuss how to best meet the requirements of the patient, whether this be by telephone or online.  Patients can also see if they may be at high risk of Type 2 diabetes by using the At Risk tool here - www.diabetes.org.uk/risk. 

Please see the attached document for more information such as; eligibility criteria, how to refer and contact details

New registrations for NHS CPCS 18/5/2020

Since 23 March 2020, pharmacies that newly registered for the NHS CPCS service via the NHS BSA portal were not being made live for the service on DOS. The registration was acknowledged but the work involved in testing the referral and processing the registration had been de-prioritised. From 1 June 2020 work to process registrations will resume and once a pharmacy registration has been processed this will be communicated.

Update to changes to the sharing of SWYPFT service user’s health records 18/5/2020

SWYPFT has under new regulations, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, enabled sharing across their clinical system for all units; therefore this now includes Mental Health modules with Barnsley practices under an extension of our existing TPP EMIS Interoperability agreement.

The purpose is to:

• Protect and support service users who may be receiving coronavirus-related care from other health providers
• Provide GPs and other healthcare providers with a view of a service user’s healthcare records (including medications and mental health history) to support them when receiving coronavirus-related healthcare.

The sharing of service user health records will try to alleviate the current situation, where larger numbers of people are being treated by clinicians who may have no prior knowledge of their medical history.

It will also mean that everyone who provides coronavirus-related care to someone who uses SWYPFT Mental Health services will have the information they need, when they need it, to make sure they can provide the best health and care support and treatment.

What does this mean for primary care?

The sharing of health records is a two-way function and we have switched on sharing from our 12 mental health provider units to both SystmOne and Emis practices.

• SWYFT – ADHD and Autism
• SWYFT – CAMHS
• SWYFT - Extra Patients
• SWYFT – Forensics
• SWYFT – Inpatients
• SWYFT – Learning Disabilities
• SWYFT - Wakefield Mental -Health Community
• SWYFT – Calderdale Mental Health Community
• SWYFT – Kirklees Mental Health Community
• SWYFT – Barnsley Stroke and Neuro
• SWYFT – Barnsley Mental Health Community
• SWYFT – South Yorkshire Liaison & Diversion

Please could all practices activate this agreement on their clinical systems to allow two way sharing of information. A full list of modules across Barnsley who are part of the TPP EMIS Interoperability agreement is attached for information.

Please find attached SLIP hints and tips for information, however if you are experiencing any problems with activating your agreement, or accessing information from modules listed as part of the agreement please contact IT through the self-portal. 

New Care Homes Support Package 18/5/2020

The Government have published an updated COVID-19: care home support package which builds on the Adult Social Care Action Plan and backed by a £600 million adult social care infection control fund..

This package sets out the steps that will be taken to keep people in care homes safe, and the support that will be brought together across national and local government to help care providers put this into practice. The next regular GP webinar on Thursday will also be focused on support to care homes, so please do submit your questions about this in advance.

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Infection prevention and control
3. Stepping up NHS Clinical Support
4. Comprehensive testing
5. Oversight and compliance – local government and national
6. Building the workforce
7. Funding
8. Conclusion
9. Annex: restricting workforce movement and minimising workforce transmission

The government has written to councils and care providers outlining the details of the support package and has provided additional advice and resources to help stop the spread of infection.

Yorkshire and the Humber Screening and Immunisation Team Update 18/5/2020

Please find attached latest Y&H SIT update:

• COVID-19 update For Information
  • Notification of COVID-19
  • Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
  • National COVID-19 surveillance reports
• Vaccine update - April 2020 For Information
• All Fluenz® Tetra now expired For Action
• NHS resources to encourage people to attend routine vaccinations For Information
• ANNB (Fetal Anomonly) screening leaflets For Information 

Sexual Assault Referral Centre Services 18/5/2020

Domestic abuse during COVID-19: a reminder of advice for NHS staff 18/5/2020Please see attached letter: C0376 - Domestic Abuse letter - v2_15052020

Further update on Mobile Testing Unit locations 18/5/2020

Latest dates/locations for mobile COVID 19 testing sites:

19-May-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
20-May-20	Barnsley	Barnsley County Way Car Park, County Way, Barnsley, S70 2JW	OPS LOCKED
21-May-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ	OPS LOCKED
22-May-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ	TENTATIVE
23-May-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ	TENTATIVE
24-May-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ	TENTATIVE
25-May-20	Sheffield	Meadowhall Overflow Car Park, Alsing Road, Sheffield, S9 1EQ	TENTATIVE

 

Site is "locked in" and can only be changed for operational reasons.	OPS LOCKED
Site is tentative and subject to change.	TENTATIVE

 

Health Checks for People with a Learning Disability 18/5/2020

As you start to restore critical services we would like to remind practices of the importance of proactive health checks for people with a learning disability particularly during this critical time. On average men with learning disabilities die 23 years earlier than men without a learning disability and for women it’s 27 years earlier. Practices are reminded that the DES has not been suspended and that they should continue to offer this proactive service to their patients.

Healthcare Professionals should discuss with the patient (if considered to have mental capacity), their carer or their advocate the most suitable and safe way to conduct a health check. Where this can be delivered safely on a face to face basis this should continue. Where this care cannot be delivered safely face to face or where the patient has other medical conditions which require them to shield or socially isolate the review could be conducted remotely, with as much of the physical review completed as is practicable in these circumstances. Practices should use their clinical judgement and knowledge of the patient, together with the advice of family or other carers, in determining whether they would be able to participate in a remote review. Reasonable adjustments should be made to accommodate the needs of patients and carers as well as considering the capacity and capability of the GP practice whilst working in different ways. We will continue to work with a range of stakeholders to help provide further best practice advice.

The RCGP Health Checks for People with Learning Disabilities Toolkit can be found here

Resumption of Market Entry activity 15/5/2020

NHS England and NHS Improvement and Primary Care Support England suspended market entry applications from 25 March 2020 to allow staff who work on these tasks to be redeployed to functions which have higher priority during the current Covid-19 pandemic. As part of its overall recovery plan to restore services paused during the lockdown, staff are now being returned to their Market Entry roles and resuming work to process applications.

As of 1 June 2020 it is expected that the full Market Entry function will be restored. However, it is likely that some applications may still take longer than the regulatory timescales to process as Market Entry teams work through the backlog of applications. 

Life Assurance Scheme extended to cover pharmacy teams 15/5/2020

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Keith Ridge has thanked colleagues across national pharmacy organisations and the profession as a whole for their support in helping to ensure the community pharmacy team is eligible for the new NHS and social care coronavirus life assurance scheme, announced by the Government on 27 April 2020. This provides life assurance benefits for eligible NHS and social care staff who are performing frontline work during the COVID-19 pandemic and includes: registered pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensing assistants and medicine counter assistants. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Association of Pharmacy Technicians in the UK have published a joint statement.

Helping NHS staff get the essentials they need 15/5/2020

NHSX have been working with retailers to introduce and scale-up initiatives aimed at health and social care staff so they have access to essential supplies, such as food and medicines. The offers include Morrisons who are providing free-delivery on its foodbox service for NHS staff - these grocery boxes contain a selection of everyday food and essential household items and each box contains enough to feed two adults for a week, and Iceland who have introduced priority access to dedicated shopping slots and deliveries for social care and NHS staff. More information on staff offers is available on the NHS England and NHS Improvement web page

Healthwatch Barnsley Survey 15/5/2020

Throughout this period, Healthwatch Barnsley is continuing to work with local health and social care services and the local community. They would like as many local people as possible to complete the following survey they have compiled in order to help them understand the impact on health and social care services at this time. The feedback received will help them communicate the things that are working well and areas of improvement to local health and care organisations.

Please ensure that your experiences and needs are heard by filling in the survey here and please feel free to share this with anyone who you feel would like to provide their input and feedback.

Access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters 15/5/2020

BSL Health Access delivers immediate, on demand access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for communication with Deaf people in all health settings, including pharmacy, opticians, general practice and dentists, free of charge during the current coronavirus situation. Access to BSL interpreters will take place through two methods: Video Relay Services (VRS) – when a BSL interpreter relays information over a telephone call between a BSL user and the hearing person receiving or making the call; and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) - where a remote interpreter is used to facilitate communication with a Deaf and hearing person in the same location.

CQC Update 15/5/2020

Mythbuster on mandatory training 

We've updated our Mythbuster that sets out our position on mandatory training requirements for GP practices.

Updated DBS guidance

We have updated our interim DBS guidance to reflect the most current information on the DBS website regarding free of charge DBS applications and fast-track Barred List Checks for COVID-19 recruitment. 

Sound Doctor 15/5/2020

Please be reminded that Sound Doctor is available to all practices. There are over 300 3-5 minute long videos for patients to access via the website or app. Topics include Diabetes, COPD, Heart Failure, Dementia, Ageing Well at home and Keeping well at work. Please contact Sound Doctor for your individual practice pin. info@thesounddoctor.org

GP Connect 111 Direct Booking Update  15/5/2020

• YAS have confirmed that where there is no appointment available the patient will be told to phone the practice. 111 would not phone the practice for them.
• We have been provided with an email address for you to report any specific issues around the CCAS service: 111.covid19complaints@nhs.net
• YAS  have a mechanism for practices/CCGs to provide any feedback/report any issues:

Internet: https://feedback.yas.nhs.uk/NHS111/ A feedback form can be accessed using the above  URL address or, Alternatively, go to the Yorkshire Ambulance website and click on the NHS 111 tab. The feedback form will be displayed.
Telephone: Monday to Friday  08: 30 to 4:30 Tel :  0333 1300549 - Option 2
Email : oneoneoneyas.feedback@nhs.net Remember to include contact information
	Write to NHS 111 :                 The Clinical Governance & Quality Team (NHS 111)                 Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust                 Springhill 1                 Brindley Way                 Wakefield                 WF2 0XQ

 

Further information was included regarding this in the bulletin on the 7^th May. Just a reminder that in SY&B we know uptake of these appointments is low so if there can be a reasonable allocation for appointments identified initially, with an expectation that this is scaled up if demand requires.

Mobile Testing 15/5/2020

Booking is through the National Site https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test

Who can apply for a test

You can apply for a test if you are:

• an essential worker with coronavirus symptoms
• aged 65 or over with coronavirus symptoms
• someone who cannot work from home and has coronavirus symptoms (for example, construction workers or delivery drivers)

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms can apply if they live with an essential worker, a person aged 65 or over, or someone who travels to work.

You can also apply for a test if you have a clinical referral from NHS 111 online.

Coronavirus symptoms included are a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.

When to apply for a test

You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms. It’s best to apply for the test in the first 3 days as it may take 1 or 2 days to arrange.

You might not get a test if you apply - it depends how many tests are available in your area.

Frontline essential workers such as NHS staff will be given priority.

Please note you must be able to attend a drive-through site

Please find below latest notification of dates for the Mobile Testing Unit:-

Booking:	3 days of bookings which are unmoveable:	3 days of dates which are only changeable due to operational necessities:	4 days of dates which are subject to change and which LRFs can influence:
Dates:	14 to 16 May 2020	17 to 19 May 2020	20 to 23 May 2020*
Details:	14 – Barnsley 15 – Sheffield 16 – Sheffield	17 – None 18 – None 19 – Barnsley	20 – Barnsley * 21 – Sheffield * 22 – Sheffield * 23– Rotherham*

COVID19 Test Results 15/5/2020

Any local testing for COVID19 undertaken by BHNFT or SWYFT (community swabbing team) is now being forwarded to the person’s GP via usual electronic routes.

Clinicians are asked to specifically look out for these. It should be noted that there have been some forwarded to the incorrect GP – please return these in the usual way to be re: allocated.

Regional and National testing sites are not currently routinely sharing results with a person’s GP – this has been flagged via regional and national routes for resolution.

Bereavement support 13/5/2020

Recognising that it is an incredibly tough time for many of us at the moment, we have put together a suite of bereavement resources that aim to help NHS staff access support during what will be a difficult time, given the restrictions and changes to normal grieving patterns and processes for staff who come from diverse backgrounds.  You can find a selection of resources that will support you during a bereavement, be that practical next steps to take as a line manager or confidential bereavement support staffed by a team of specialists.  You can access the bereavement support online or call the confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK, on 0300 303 4434, free to access from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. 

Thank you from CCG Governing Body 13/5/2020

We recently held the CCG governing body meeting and they want to take the opportunity to extend their overwhelming sense of pride and thanks for the work undertaken by colleagues across all our partners and member practices. 

They were able to take some time to reflect, as I’m sure you will have been doing yourselves, on the fantastic work of the teams within and between the organisations in Barnsley. Staff have excelled beyond the normal expectations of their roles to provide services to Barnsley people during the emergency situation. 

Please pass this thanks and letter on to your teams. 

Shining a light on nurses 13/5/2020

A big thank you to everyone who got in touch to help us celebrate international nurses day in Barnsley Chronicle last week and yesterday on social media. There was a fantastic response online and we’ve seen some lovely feedback on how valued nursing colleagues and GP practices are overall. 

Spectrum Integrated Sexual Health Clinics 13/5/2020

Please see attached flyer for Barnsley’s Integrated Sexual Health Service (Spectrum) who are still providing a number of functions at this time via online, telephone and postal methods. This includes contraception and condom provision, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and advice and PEPSE (for people who may  have been exposed to HIV).  They are also providing advice and guidance to young people on a range of issues including healthy relationships and safe social media usage. 

Patient Registration / Practice Lists 5/5/2020

A polite reminder that despite the difficulties practices are facing in regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, all practice lists should remain open and practices should continue to register new patients as necessary.

Bereavement support for #OurNHSPeople 4/5/2020

On 28 April we observed a minute's silence to honour colleagues in health and care who have lost their lives to COVID19. It is an incredibly tough time for many of us at the moment, and we may need to reach out for support. NHS England and NHS Improvement have put together a suite of bereavement resources that aim to help you access support during what will be a difficult time for our staff, given the restrictions and changes to normal grieving patterns and processes for staff who come from diverse backgrounds. In recognition of this, you can find a selection of resources that will support you during a bereavement, be that practical next steps to take as a line manager or confidential bereavement support staffed by a team of specialists.

You can access the bereavement support online or you can call the confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK, on 0300 303 4434. This is free to access from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. 

Barnsley Chronicle this Friday  4/5/2020

You will have seen that we’ve been promoting the role of primary care and health and care teams in the Barnsley Chronicle and on social media. A massive thank you if you have been sharing your photos and stories – they are being really well received. Keep them coming. 

In this Friday’s Chronicle we are celebrating the International Day of the Nurse, and we’re looking to feature our nursing colleagues working in practice. We’ll be featuring bits from the Barnsley nurses in primary care awards, as well as couple of colleagues in more depth. If you have any nurses and healthcare assistants who want to celebrate the brilliant roles and how they might be different at the minute, then they can contact kirstywaknell@nhs.net before Wednesday lunchtime. 

Remote total triage in general practice 4/5/2020

As part of Health Education England (HEE) e-learning programme for COVID-19 a remote total triage in general practice resource has been developed by the Digital First Primary Care Team at NHSE/I and HEE to support all GP practices in England with the rapid implementation of a ‘total triage’ model.

This model enables practices to use an online consultation system to gather clinically relevant information from patients in their own time and triage patient contacts, responding using the most appropriate modality to meet the patient’s needs such as via telephone, video, text or online messaging. Non-digital users are taken through the same process by administrative staff over the telephone. 

Total triage is important to reduce avoidable footfall into practices and protect patients and staff from the risks of infection. It enables practices to manage work more efficiently, whilst supporting continuity of care and equity of access. 

RCGP/AHSN webinar: COVID-19: Patient Assessment - the role of physiology and oximetry 30/4/2020

For those of you who weren’t able to join the RCGP/AHSN webinar: COVID-19: Patient Assessment - the role of physiology and oximetry, or for anyone who would like to watch the webinar again, it has now been uploaded to YouTube: https://youtu.be/EUGurkVfJQI

Alzheimer's Society - How you can support people with dementia in your community 30/4/2020

The Dementia Friendly Communities team have developed a toolkit for people who are helping or volunteering in their local communities during coronavirus. The toolkit has five simple things to help when supporting people affected by dementia and was created with input from people living with dementia. Please also find attached a leaflet for people with dementia.  

IDAS - specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence 30/4/2020

Useful information regarding the continued support to Barnsley residents suffering domestic abuse and violence during Covid19 can be found here. 

A new Intermediate Care Home and step-up recuperation unit 29/4/2020

A new IMC and Step-up recuperation unit at Mapleton Court Care Home has been temporarily opened on the 20^th April 2020.  It has been commissioned by the CCG to provide extra care beds to meet the unexpected demand, that may be needed to respond to the impact of the COVID 19 on the health and social care system.  Please find attached some information about the provision and a new residents information leaflet.  All referrals to the new unit are being managed via Right Care Barnsley and GP medic cover will be provided via BHF, as per the current IMC arrangements. If you have any queries about the new unit please either contact Rightcare or Siobhan Lendzionowski at the CCG (Siobhan.lendzionowski@nhs.net)       

MindSpace service 29/4/2020

The MindSpace Service is still accepting referrals from GP’s.  See contact details bellow:

www.wearemindspace.com

hello@wearemindspace.com

SWYPFT Stop Smoking Service – Services still available 29/4/2020

The Stop Smoking Service are unable to run their face to face clinics at present however they are continuing to take referrals and offering weekly telephone support . This is working well and providing the support the patients need.

The service is also trying to contact smokers during this time of crisis to remind them of the importance around stopping smoking and the impact smoking can have on someone suffering with COVID-19.  In light of this the Stop Smoking Service wondered if it would be possible for a standard text to go out to the registered smokers at your practice to remind them there is support to stop smoking available during this time and that it can greatly impact their health.

If this would be possible to do in practice the following wording is suggested from the service:  

“Smoking tobacco is known to damage the lungs.  Evidence shows COVID-19 virus attacks the respiratory system. Smokers with COVID-19 are 14 times more likely to develop severe disease. In light of this there has never been a better time to quit. Call Yorkshire Smokefree Barnsley on 0800 612 0011 or 0330 660 1166”

Changes to the sharing of SWYPFT service user’s health records 29/4/2020

SWYPFT has under new regulations and in response to the coronavirus pandemic enabled sharing across their clinical system for all units including Mental Health.  

The purpose is to:

• Protect and support service users who may be receiving coronavirus-related care from other health providers
• Provide GPs and other healthcare providers with a view of a service user’s healthcare records (including medications and mental health history) to support them when receiving coronavirus-related healthcare.

The sharing of service user health records will try to alleviate the current situation, where larger numbers of people are being treated by clinicians who may have no prior knowledge of their medical history.

It will also mean that everyone who provides coronavirus-related care to someone who uses SWYPFT Mental Health services from now until the end of September will have the information they need, when they need it, to make sure they can provide the best health and care support and treatment.

Over the next few months, the Trust will work towards a business as usual solution for continued sharing out when the notice expires at the end of September.

What does this mean for primary care?

The sharing of health records is a two-way function and we have switched on sharing from our 12 mental health provider units to other SystmOne users.

The new health records will appear on SystmOne in the ‘tabbed’ journal under the SWYPFT unit names: 

• SWYFT – ADHD and Autism
• SWYFT – CAMHS
• SWYFT - Extra Patients
• SWYFT – Forensics
• SWYFT – Inpatients
• SWYFT – Learning Disabilities
• SWYFT - Wakefield Mental -Health Community
• SWYFT – Calderdale Mental Health Community
• SWYFT – Kirklees Mental Health Community
• SWYFT – Barnsley Stroke and Neuro
• SWYFT – Barnsley Mental Health Community
• SWYFT – South Yorkshire Liaison & Diversion

Work is currently undergoing to extend this to support  EMIS users in Primary Care under the SLIP or TPP EMIS Interoperability agreement. (Third Party Record Viewer). It is anticipated this work will be completed within two weeks.

Configuration for NHS111 COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Service (CCAS) 28/4/2020

As part of NHS Digital’s response to COVID-19, arrangements have been made for GP practices to access GP Connect functionality. A new NHS 111 service CCAS will assess suspected COVID-19 patients needing further assessment from primary care but do not require hospital treatment using a read only view of the patients record using GP Connect.

GP practices are required to set up the GP Connect functionality to create daily ‘triage lists’ within their appointment book to be accessed by CCAS clinicians. Patients added to the triage list will be advised that primary care will be in touch. Practices will then make a local decision as to how they contact their patients.

Please see attached for further information and instructions. 

• 3a EMIS Web - Configuration for NHS 111 COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Ser...
• 3b TPP Appointments CCAS User Guide v0.2
• 3c TPP Appointments User Guide v1.1

Bank Holiday Opening 28/4/2020

The CCG have given consideration to patient activity over the Easter period and taken the decision NOT to ask practices to open on the Early May Bank Holiday. 

Patients will be advised to contact i-Heart on Friday 8^th May to book appointments as would be the usual service provided on a bank holiday. Please find attached a flyer for information and use. 

Texts for shielded people 27/4/2020

The NHS has been writing to people considered to be at highest clinical risk from coronavirus (COVID-19) to inform them that they should stay at home at all times and avoid all face-to-face contact for a period of at least 12 weeks. This advice is set out in the Public Health England guidance.  A further round of texts and letters are going out to those identified through central data as part of the weekly national update of the list. 

The GPs and hospital clinicians looking after people in these groups have also been informed of who is included in the highest clinical risk group.  They have been asked to review their patient lists and to add in anyone else who they think should be considered at highest clinical risk and advised to shield.   

People falling into this highest clinical risk group include:  

• Solid organ transplant recipients 
• People with specific cancers
• People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs 
• People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD  
• People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell) 
• People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection 
• Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired   

For key messages and a Q&A, which are strictly for staff use only please contact the primary care team.

Please note that further information about the local arrangements in place within Barnsley to access support for urgent medication deliveries (including the criteria for this) will be included in tomorrow’s bulletin. 

COVID-19: Patient Assessment the role of physiology and oximetry 27/4/2020

The assessment of patients who are unwell with COVID-19 or other causes presents a significant challenge for GPs and clinicians working in Primary Care. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the AHSN Network are holding a joint webinar looking at the role of oximetry and other physiology in that assessment. The webinar will be led by RCGP Honorary Secretary and COVID Lead Dr Jonathan Leach, with Dr Alison Tavaré, Primary Care Clinical Lead at West of England AHSN, and Dr Simon Stockley, RCGP Lead for Acute Deterioration and Sepsis. They will cover the importance of oximetry in COVID-19, clinical judgement and physiology in patient assessment, and the role of the National Early Warning Score NEWS2 in General Practice. 

The webinar will be held on Wednesday 29 April, 1.30-2.30pm and you can register here. The webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards.

Dementia and OPMH Clinical Network  - Conversations about COVID - Weds 29th April, 12-1pm and 5-6pm 27/4/2020 

The Dementia and OPMH Clinical Network are holding a Microsoft Teams meeting for clinicians  interested in discussing your experiences of supporting people affected by dementia and frailty during COVID.  You’re welcome to talk about challenges, share successes or just join for some peer support.  

There won’t be any set agenda for these sessions although we’re anticipating the conversations may include issues like advance care planning /eolc conversations; coping and support strategies for people affected by dementia; falls management and supporting people who use purposeful walking during COVID.  But please feel free to raise any COVID-related issues during these conversations. 

Each session will be attended by at least one of our clinical advisors: Dr Sara Humphrey, GPwSI in Older People and Associate Clinical Director Frailty/ Dementia and LD for NHS Bradford District & Craven CCG; Dr Rod Kersh, Consultant Community Physician in Rotherham; Chris North, Dementia Lead for Bradford District Care Trust; Dr Tolu Olusoga, Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Clinical Director (MHSOP), Tees Esk & Wear Valley NHS FT.

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting 

COVID-19: Increased Patient Information for health and care professionals letter 27/4/2020

To help the NHS to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHSX and NHS Digital are improving the access that doctors, nurses and other authorised health and care professionals have to medical records and information, so that they can more safely treat and advise patients who are not attending their usual GP practice or who have called NHS 111 or who are attending hospital or other healthcare settings to receive direct care.

Reminder re: testing for Health and Social Care staff and their household 24/4/2020

Please see attached local guidance: Principles of COVID-19 testing for Health and Social Care staff and their household 

FIT Safety Netting 2 week Lower GI Referrals Current Patients 24/4/2020

In line with national guidance, the endoscopy departments have to reduce their provision of service to emergency endoscopy only. This means colonoscopy examinations are not currently being performed. The reasons for this are three fold:

• There is infection risk to both patients and NHS staff from both upper and lower GI endoscopies
• It is consistent with the need to limit the spread of COVID-19 throughout our populations
• The need for as many clinical staff as possible to be allocated to wards to support the care of acutely unwell inpatients

BHNFT therefore want to complete a FIT test for patients already in the system waiting for a procedure. As this will help us with further safety netting these patients. There are approx 100 in total of patients whom this would apply to at the moment . i.e. 2-3 patients from each practice.   

The process we are proposing is below:

1.  BHNFT will contact the patient by phone for a ‘Health and Wellbeing’ catch up but also ask if they would be willing to complete a FIT test. To start from Monday 27^th April.  
2.  If the patient agrees to complete a FIT then BHNFT will contact the patients’ practice and request that the practice issue the FIT kit to the patient by post or the patient can collect from the practice if this is appropriate.
3. The triage nurse at BHNFT will explain the process to the patient prior to submitting the request to the practice.
4. The practice will need to print the label for the FIT.
5. The patient will then either post the sample or return it the practice so the practice can send for testing.
6. BHNFT will monitor these patients and chase test results.
7. The clinician at BHNFT will then review the results on Ice Open net and follow the same pathway as a new referral.

Please contact Siobhan Lendzionowski at Siobhan.lendzionowski@nhs.net or Janine Quate at Janine.quate@nhs.net if you have any issues or queries ASAP.

BHNFT Virtual Outpatients 24/4/2020

A number of acute services have now been located within the community, e.g. Phlebotomy, acute prescriptions; all avoiding the patient coming to the hospital site The final process for those patients that needs addressing is provision and collection of  samples to aid the diagnostics (e.g. stool/urine/sputum).

Therefore, we would like introduce an option for the patient, (or preferably their nominated ‘healthy’ carer), to drop their sample at their local GP practice for collection with the practice samples.

BHNFT staff would send the patient a paper request form and this would be used to package the sample, ensuring the patient is able to get the sample to their GP practice

All the test results get returned to the OPD Consultant requesting the sample for subsequent follow up.

There would be no requirement for the practices to examine or consult with the patient, just permission to use their sample collection point.

Please contact the Primary Care Team if you have any objections or issues with this proposal by CoP Wednesday 29^th April – assuming no major concerns or issues are raised we would like to start this from Thursday 30^th April 2020.

Doctorlink - Symptom Assessment Report Changes 24/4/2020

Changes have been made to improve the clarity of the Symptom Assessment Report, which practices receive when a patient completes a symptom assessment. These changes include:

• A new simplified layout.
• Clearly defined sections so you can find the information you need quickly and easily.
• RAG status for each outcome which reflects the RCGP guidance on workload prioritisation during COVID-19. 

COVID FIT 2ww High Risk Lower GI pathway 24/4/2020

Covid 19 has accelerated the interest in the use of FIT in a symptomatic context. We have therefore been working with clinicians in both primary and secondary care -to develop the use of FIT in high risk symptomatic patients who meet the 2WW clinical criteria following national referral guidance.

The letter and pathway attached details the process required in both Primary and secondary care to enable the FIT result to be used as part of the secondary care triage process.  The FIT result will help to inform the risk stratification of 2ww patients - as to the timeliness and most appropriate next pathway step.

A FIT Test is to be initiated in Primary care asap, at the same time as the 2ww referral unless there is rectal bleeding when a FIT test is unhelpful.  You also will need to request completion of FBC, U&E and Ferritin as we know the FIT test and ferritin level aid clinical triaging of patients.  If consultation is face to face also complete DRE if possible.

All patients will have secondary care clinical triage, if specialists decide on alternative treatment the patient will be kept on a tracking list as per normal pathway administrative processes. This will help to ensure safety netting and further follow up at a later date.  This will be reviewed routinely by secondary care clinicians.

Patients WILL NOT be discharged off the pathway on the basis of the FIT test alone- as in some patient cohorts such as those with iron deficiency anaemia may have a false negative FIT result.

The pathway will be kept under constant review as the response to COVID changes.

We appreciate your support in the implementation of the COVID FIT 2ww High Risk Lower GI pathway. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Siobhan Lendzionowski  at Siobhan.lendzionowski@nhs.net or Janine Quate at Janine.quate@nhs.net

Please note: The procedure for 2WW FIT test request is the same as the one practices have been using for the Low Risk FIT pathway – this includes using the same clinical code (READ/SNOMED); FIT test packs and notification of the results via ICE. The only additional action we are asking if for you to undertake is on the 2WW referral form under OTHER INFORMATION write if the patient has been given FIT to complete and postal return to lab.

Teledermatology Service 23/4/2020

1. Extension of the Teledermatology Pilot to August 2020

The teledermatology pilot has been extended until August 2020 so that more practices can take part and provide further time to robustly evaluate it.  

Clinical Partnership has recently developed a platform that provides GP practices with the facility to ask patients to provide secure images straight to the provider, from within their own home. This will allow practices to continue making referrals to the service, without the requirement for the patient to attend the practice. It will also allow GP’s to continue to provide this service remotely and thereby stay within the COVID 19 GP Consultation guidance.    

The amended process can be:

1. The patient has a video consultation with the practice in the first instance to decide whether a referral would be appropriate.
2. If it is decided that a referral is the most appropriate course of action then the practice to register the patient on the World Health Net platform.
3. The practice then sends a link to the patient by email/SMS from the World Net platform. 
4. Practice sends referrals as per usual process.
5. The patient adds their symptoms and images themselves (or a relative) using a PC/desktop computer or a  mobile phone. (see attached CP protocol patient tip guidance that can be sent to patients about taking clear images).
6. The patient sends images to the provider  (Clinical partnership)
7. The GP will then receive the outcome and/or treatment plan in the same way as before.

You can still make a referral using the dermascope, if you deem it appropriate to see a patient face to face whilst adhering to COVID guidelines.

Please see attached guides for more information about the new patient initiated image provision and photography tips for practices and patients.  

a) CP Telederm Photography Tips for Patients

b) CP Telederm Photography Tips for Practices

Please note that the aim of this service is to reduce OPD referrals to BHNFT and to try to avoid increasing referrals from practices straight to secondary care. It can also support practices to manage demand during COVID via remote / virtual primary care consultations.

Thank you for your continued support with the pilot. For any queries please contact Janine Quate, Programme Officer, janine.quate@nhs.net

2. Emerging skin manifestations of COVID-19

The attached poster has been produced by Dermatologists across the EU and is issued to support diagnosis in patients with Covid-19 who develop rashes. If there is diagnostic uncertainty or if you need any support, please contact the Telederm service on: 01482 908208 / admin@clinicalpartnership.co.uk 

IHEART Electronic Prescribing Enabled 22/4/2020

The IHEART service has had electronic prescribing enabled. Community Pharmacies will now be receiving electronic prescriptions from the service, however these will always be preceded with a telephone call to agree with the Pharmacy that the prescription can be sent.

Flu vaccine orders for 2020/21 22/4/2020

Providers are urged to ensure that sufficient of the cohort specific recommended flu vaccines have been ordered for the 2020/21 flu season, taking the following into account:

• Due to the COVID outbreak, discussions underway in expert national groups suggest that there may be a higher demand for the flu vaccine next season than in previous years.
• As a minimum providers are advised to order sufficient of the recommended flu vaccine to meet the national uptake targets (75% of patients aged 65 years and over and 55% of patients <65 years in at risk groups or where this was achieved in the previous season an improvement) plus 10% additional demand and/or have some flexibility within existing arrangements to meet any further increased demand.   
• The extended deadline (end of April) for placing orders is fast approaching.
• Vaccines should be ordered from more than one flu vaccine supplier, where this is an option, to minimise any potential risk to vaccine supply.   It is also advisable to order a selection of the recommended vaccines (e.g. QIVc and QIVe for at risk adults <65 years).
• The recommended vaccines for the 2020/21 flu season are detailed in the NHS England letter (December 2019).   
  • Patients aged 65 years and over: aTIV or QIVc (if aTIV is not available)
  • At risk adults <65 years: QIVc or QIVe    

Please contact Gemma Crew (gemma.crew@nhs.net) or Deborah Cooke (deborah.cooke@nhs.net) in the Medicines Management Team if you have any queries relating to the above.

Reducing the burden of fit notes during Covid-19 11/4/2020

Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or those having to self-isolate due to residing with someone with COVID-19 symptoms can obtain an Isolation Note in line with current guidance.

For non COVID-19 health conditions, employers may still insist on fit notes for payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Occupational Sick Pay (OSP). A fit note with a wet signature (defined as ‘other medical evidence’ required by Medical Evidence Regulations) can be scanned and emailed to a patient. GPs should give due consideration of GDPR with necessary consent in place, guidance to employers will be updated to reflect this.

If an employer insists on a paper copy fit note, this can be posted to the patient. GPs can issue fit notes for a clinically appropriate time, in line with existing guidance

Launch of the Integrated Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team 22/4/2020

The new Integrated Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team launched on Monday 20 April.  Please find a poster attached. The ESD and inpatient referral forms will be available on the BEST website in the COVID-19 section.

The service is working in a limited capacity of therapy only due to COVID-19 and will expand to it's full capacity when possible. 

To enquire further please contact barnsleycommunitystroketeam@nhs.net or 01226 645434 / 01226 645430 

Launch of Medchart Discharge Solution - Mid Yorks NHS Trust 22/4/2020

On Wednesday 22 April the Trust will be launching the Discharge Solution on Medchart, our electronic prescribing system. This is designed to speed up the process of patient discharges by removing the need to manually input medications onto SystmOne when writing discharge letters.

Medchart will generate a discharge medications list for inpatients, which will be automatically sent as a PDF to CITO, the Trust’s electronic document management system, for GPs to access electronically. This will be sent via NHSmail.

This has been accelerated in response to covid19 in order to relieve acute hospital pressures across the Trust at this unprecedented time. It is a temporary measure of sending clinical information until we have confirmation that further developments of sending clinical information electronically are safe and secure.

If there are any queries regarding this, please do not hesitate to Heena Mahmood, Digital Clinical Change Manager, The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, by email at heenamahmood@nhs.net or telephone 01924 319308.

My Best Life – Social Prescribing Service  21/4/2020

My Best Life are continuing to support patients during this time through telephone and online support. Please make referrals in your usual way.

Additionally the service is  aware practices may have vulnerable and isolated patients who you are concerned about during this time. The service is able to phone these patients to check on their wellbeing and offer some verbal support to help them deal with isolation during this period.

If you would like My Best Life  to contact patients please send the patient name and number to the secure email address mybest.life@syha.cjsm.net and use ‘Covid19 support’ in the subject. If these patients have any specific mental health or care needs please refer to Adult Social Care and NHS Mental Health services as normal.  

Temporary removal of routine D4 medical for renewal of HGV licences 21/4/2020

The government has announced a temporary relaxation of the requirement for bus and lorry drivers to provide a doctor’s medical report in order to renew their licence. Under the scheme, drivers will be able to receive a temporary 1-year licence, providing they do not have any medical conditions that affect their driving and their current licence expires in 2020. This will help to reduce workload for doctors whilst ensuring that drivers can still have licences renewed.

Drivers with health issues will still need to declare these, and those with health issues that prevent them from driving safely will not have their licence renewed. This temporary change will only apply to those drivers whose licences are due to expire or have expired since 1 January 2020 and not for those making their first application for a Group 2 bus or lorry licence.

Barnsley Healthcare Federation CMS service 21/4/2020

I would just like to provide you all with an update in regards to Barnsley Healthcare Federation’s CMS service as the service evolves, takes shape and we all practices begin to understand the service better.

GP bypass number:

Our GP will sometimes require to speak to the referring practitioner or GP. In order to enable this, can we please have the surgeries’ bypass number included on the referral form or a direct line number to get straight through to the GP. Sometimes our GP has to wait around 15 minutes to get through to the GP surgery and then be put through to the referring clinician. This significantly reduces our capacity and delays care for other patients.

Making patients aware of the referral:

We are seeing a small number of patients unwilling to come to the Blue Clinic or have a home visiting practitioner come to their address due to fears of being infected by the clinician. Could you please ask your clinicians to ensure that the patient is happy to be referred to our service which is highly likely to require face to face contact. If they do not wish to do so, then remote management should be considered by the patient’s own surgery.

Removal of Stitches:

We are able to provide removal of stitches for patients with suspected COVID19 symptoms depending on the skillset and refreshed knowledge of our GP on the day.

Your feedback:

I am extremely eager to hear from you all and your clinicians about whether you are finding the service useful and that it is providing a valuable service for your patients who have COVID19 or symptoms indicative of COVID19. Please feel free to send this to your clinicians with my contact details (thomas.croker1@nhs.net) should they wish to send me an email highlighting their thoughts and experiences thus far. Your feedback can help mould and shape the future of the service during the current pandemic.

Digital First webinars on practical steps that practices should take to establish a total triage model 20/4/2020

• 21 April, 12.30-1pm: COVID19 Digital Nurse Network
• 23 April, 4.30-5pm: using accuRx throughout COVID19 for video consultations 

Y&H Screening and Immunisation Team Update W/C 13th April 2020 20/4/2020

• COVID-19 -  For Information/Action
• Importance of sharing clinical data with the Child Health Information Services (CHIS) – For Action 
• Vaccine orders centrally supplied vaccines from ImmForm – For Action
• Use of PGDs by PCNs –  For Information
• Ordering adult flu vaccines for 2020/21 -  For Action
• The Green Book multiple choice questions – For Information
• The Green Book chapter update – For Information
• Updated leaflets/information for men with small, medium and large AAA’s detected through screening – For Information
• Breast screening for women aged 71 or over – For Information

HMT funding for the hospice sector to support the COVID-19 response 20/4/2020

Please find attached letter regarding additional funding of up to £200 million over the next three months to enable the NHS to purchase extra support from hospices to deliver additional inpatient beds and end of life community services.

Support for those bereaved during the Coronavirus Pandemic 20/4/2020

Please find attached poster outlining details of a service for anyone who has lost a loved one and who needs support, advice or guidance – people can be referred or self-refer. This is also being promoted on Barnsley CCG website and via social media.

E-discharges via NHSMail to GP practices from Emergency department 20/4/2020

Following earlier communications re: e-discharges via NHSMail to GP practices, we will be commencing this as of 21/04/2020. This has been accelerated in response to covid19 in order to relieve acute hospital pressures across the Trust at this unprecedented time.

This means discharge letters from Emergency Dept (ED) will now be sent via NHSMail to receiving GP practices nhs.net email accounts. The benefit of this is reducing admin/postage burdens for both ED admin and GP practices.We will continue sending paper discharges for a short period of time to ensure clinical information is being received like for like. Once all are satisfied with this, batch prints will be turned off and we will no longer send paper copies.

I advise any technical issues be forwarded directly on to: midyorks.mydigitalfuture@nhs.net with subject: EDLs, so it can be brought to our attention accordingly.

Safeguarding in Barnsley during COVID-19 20/4/2020

In order to support Primary Care over the coming weeks in relation to their safeguarding requirements the CCG Safeguarding Team will take over key functions on behalf of the GP’s from 20 April 2020 (for an initial period of up to 3 months).

Please see attached documents:

• Safeguarding Proposals during COVID-19
• GP Comms re Safeguarding COVID
• SAFEGUARDING PROCESS TO SUPPORT PRIMARY CARE

Please direct any queries to Angela Fawcett, Designated Nurse Safeguarding Children, on 07887530291, qualityteam.safehaven@nhs.net

Shielded Patient Flag 17/4/2020

We have already shared details with you of the new alert that has been made available to community pharmacy for the people on the Shielded Patient List. This alert is currently accessible via the SCRa (web application) but will also be accessible via SCR 1-click solutions from tomorrow, Friday 17 April. The alert states whether someone is vulnerable because they are at risk of severe illness if they catch COVID-19. The list of people for whom this alert is set is held within the NHS Spine and will be regularly updated.

Community pharmacy staff who already have access to the SCRa via 1-click will have access to these flags. Each time a patient’s record is opened, an alert will pop-up for people referenced on this list. SCR 1-click is available via the following systems: Cegedim Pharmacy Manager, PharmOutcomes and Sonar Informatics.

Access to the alert will support the identification of patients that must be supported by the Medicines Delivery service announced last Friday 10 April.

Upcoming Webinar 17/4/2020

Thursday 23 April, 5-6pm: Primary care webinar with Nikki Kanani and Ed Waller

Latest COVID 19 Barnsley Intelligence and Data 17/4/2020

Some practices have asked for a regular data to be included within this briefing which summarises the Barnsley position on COVID 19. Attached is a first draft to share with primary care which summarises the local position across our local health and care providers aswell as information on new cases and an update around the peak. This data is shared for information only to ensure that Primary Care are informed of the latest data and intelligence for managing COVID 19 in Barnsley. A weekly position update will be provided going forward.

ED electronic discharge letters 17/4/2020

E-discharges via NHSMail to GP practices will be commencing as of next week on: 21/04/2020. This has been accelerated in response to covid19 in order to relieve acute hospital pressures across the Trust at this unprecedented time.

This means discharge letters from Emergency Dept (ED) will now be sent via NHSMail to receiving GP practices nhs.net email accounts. The benefit of this is reducing admin/postage burdens for both ED admin and GP practices.

Paper discharges will continue to be sent for a short period of time to ensure clinical information is being received like for like. Once all are satisfied with this, batch prints will be turned off and paper copies no longer sent.

Please forward any technical issues directly on to: midyorks.mydigitalfuture@nhs.net with subject: EDLs so it can be brought to our attention accordingly. This will only be necessary after we achieve go-live of discharges on 21/04/20.

Online Learning Opportunities: 

AF Patients & the Management of Anticoagulant Services during the Coronavirus Pandemic – Live Interactive Webinar 17/4/2020

Over the next few weeks, Issues & Answers are hosting a series of free, bite-sized COVID-19 webinars for primary healthcare professionals. The webinars have been created to support HCPs during these unprecedented times, giving much needed guidance around how to manage patients with high-risk conditions.  The first webinar is: ‘AF patients & the management of anticoagulant services during the coronavirus pandemic’ and will take place on Tuesday 21st April at 18.00 hours.

Hypertension Learning Bites 

The first two learning bites in our CV Management Series are now live on the website https://pccsuk.org/2020/en/page/covid-19-online-learning-bites

The 3^rd and 4^th learning bites are also now available on the PCCS website. Please click here to view.

1. Maintaining anticoagulation efficacy and safety during the covid-19 crisis, should i be switching my warfarin to a doac? - Learning bite 1
2. Covid-19 and diabetes - Learning bite 2
3. Assessment of Hypertension in Primary Care during the COVID-19 crisis Learning bite 3
4. Treatment of Hypertension in Primary Care in a time of COVID-19 Learning bite 4

Digital Maternity Exemption Certificates 17/4/2020 

Midwives, practice nurses and health visitors can now sign up to issue digital Maternity Exemption certificates to ensure mothers instantly receive their certificate. To help reduce the waiting time for paper applications to be processed in light of the current COVID-19 outbreak by encouraging your colleagues to sign up to the digital service with the new toolkit. See attached for further information.

Service Moving: Barnsley Phlebotomy Outpatients Relocation 17/4/2020

From Monday 20 April, the phlebotomy outpatients department at Barnsley Hospital will be closed, and this service will relocate to the Roundhouse Centre, Wakefield Road, Athersley, S71 1TH.

This move supports social distancing guidance and is to protect vulnerable patients who require vital blood tests. The service will be open Monday to Friday from 8:15 until 16:30 and will operate an appointment system for Adult patients only.

We are advising people that if they already have an appointment for a blood test at phlebotomy outpatients, they should attend the Roundhouse Centre at their appointment date and time.

If people need to make an appointment for a blood test please contact the department on (01226) 433963.

Patients under the age of 16 who require a blood test are to continue to contact the Paediatric Outpatient Department on (01226) 434966 or (01226) 435205.

Referrals to Secondary Care 17/4/2020

In the current context it is important that clear, consistent processes exist to ensure safe handling of emergent, urgent and routine referrals from primary care. At present this requires agreement between partners at a local level.

NHS guidance will be published shortly advising secondary care to accept and hold clinical responsibility for GP referrals. Therefore, GPs should continue to refer patients to secondary care using the usual pathways and to base judgments around urgency of need on usual clinical thresholds (taking into consideration need for non face to face consultations, likely delays in recommencement of routine elective activity, and communicating likely delays to patients at point of referral).

GPs should continue to use specialist advice and guidance where available to inform management of patients whose care remains within primary care including those who are awaiting review in secondary care when appropriate. Colleagues should work collaboratively across primary and secondary care to ensure this advice and guidance is provided in a timely fashion to ensure safe care is delivered, taking into account the exceptional pressures which exist across the whole system.

Changes to children’s emergency services go live this Monday 20/4/20 17/4/2020

From Thursday 16^th April urgent surgery on children (under the age of 16 years) in the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw area will take place at Sheffield Children’s Hospital rather than the local District General Hospitals including Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield and Rotherham. 

This is with the exception of time-critical surgery that will remain at local District General Hospitals e.g. testicular torsion and blocked airway.

This is part of the COVID-19 response, due to the expectation that DGH anesthetists who provide care for unwell children will be actively involved with treatment of severely unwell patients suffering from COVID-19.

Anybody from within the primary care team who may need to admit a child with a probable (non-time critical) surgical condition (including appendicitis and bone fracture) is instructed to telephone Sheffield Children’s switchboard on 0114 2717000 and ask for the relevant specialty registrar.

Please read all attached documents:

• GP - Letter NJ Information for GPs regarding transfer of Paediatric Surgery
• Protocol - Paediatric Consolidation Sub group Emergency Surgery
• GP - Checklist for the transfer of a child from Primary Care to SCH for Urgent Surgery
• GP - Children's Surgery consolidation general communications 

Audiology Update 16/4/2020

The Audiology Department are still quite busy and receiving around 40 enquiries from patients a day, via email, text, post and telephone for batteries to be posted out and for postal hearing aid repairs including a small number of patients turning up at the department.

Please note the following:

• The Audiology Department continue to support ENT and can provide hearing tests when needed. 
• The Tinnitus counselling appointments via telephone are working extremely well and in fact so well that the department are planning to keep this as an option for patients going forward.
• New born hearing screening on the Maternity Ward is continuing as normal, other than the staff are wearing PPE.
• All patients booked in for hearing aids for the first time but cancelled are now on a waiting list and will take priority once things are back to normal.
• All patients booked to have a reassessment of existing hearing aids were discharged and advised to re-book when things are back to normal.
• All C&B appointments have been blocked out until the end of May however these can be reopened should the situation change before then.
• Audiology staff are receiving positive comments from patients in appreciation of the service that the department is continuing to provide
• The Audiology Department is updating the relevant web pages to keep patients informed of the service being delivered during this time

Total Triage Approach 16/4/2020

The CCG is grateful to everyone across General Practice who has been making great progress in moving towards a total triage approach (as outlined in the attached document 'C0098-remote-total-triage-blueprint-V1-2'), using online consultations, and also enabling video consultation to support remote management of patients. These measures are helping to reduce avoidable footfall in practices, protect both patients and staff from the risks of infection.

New Bereavement Services goes live on Monday 20 April 16/4/2020

A new bereavement service will go live on Monday 20 April. The service is to support anyone who is bereaved at this time and has a Freephone number or website to access.  It is open to everyone who has been bereaved and not just those that have died from Covid-19.

You can refer people to the service and there will also be promotional materials available, provided by the council.

Information for GPs regarding transfer of Paediatric Surgery to Sheffield Children’s Hospital (SCH) 16/4/2020

From Thursday 16^th April urgent surgery on children (under the age of 16 years) in the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw area will take place at Sheffield Children’s Hospital rather than the local District General Hospitals including Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield and Rotherham. 

This is with the exception of time-critical surgery that will remain at local District General Hospitals e.g. testicular torsion and blocked airway.

This is part of the COVID-19 response, due to the expectation that DGH anesthetists who provide care for unwell children will be actively involved with treatment of severely unwell patients suffering from COVID-19.

Anybody from within the primary care team who may need to admit a child with a probable (non-time critical) surgical condition (including appendicitis and bone fracture) is instructed to telephone Sheffield Children’s switchboard on 0114 2717000 and ask for the relevant specialty registrar.

Please read all attached documents:

• GP - Letter NJ Information for GPs regarding transfer of Paediatric Surgery
• Protocol - Paediatric Consolidation Sub group Emergency Surgery
• GP - Checklist for the transfer of a child from Primary Care to SCH for Urgent Surgery
• GP - Children's Surgery consolidation general communications

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services 15/4/2020

Please see attached information and guidance for GPs regarding sexual and reproductive health services during this time. This includes information on;

• Cervical Screening Programme – Sample taking guidance
• Recommendations for essential SRH services  
• SRH Services in GP Practices
• SRH Services in Community Pharmacy’s

Child Health Information Services (CHIS) 15/4/2020

The latest GP preparedness letter includes information on the importance of maintaining the routine immunisation programme. The Child Health Information Services (CHIS) and the systems which support them ensure that each child in England has an accurate active record supporting delivery of public health interventions including; screening, immunisation and the other Healthy Child Programme services. CHIS providers will continue to deliver these services during the COVID-19 incident.

GPs in practice supporting NHS 111 14/4/2020

We are extremely grateful to the number of salaried GPs or GP Partners who have volunteered to support remote delivery of the COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Service (CCAS) in addition to their day to day work in clinical practice. We know how hard you are already working and your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.

Please could anyone who has volunteered to undertake sessions for the CCAS and who has received their honorary contract from South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) NHS Foundation Trust please sign and return this as soon as possible so that we can proceed with onboarding you into the service.

CQC Updates 14/4/2020

Updated Regulation 16 (death notification) form

We would like to understand the numbers of deaths that are occurring due to COVID-19, whether suspected or confirmed. To do this, we have updated the Regulation 16 (death notification) form so you can indicate whether the death was a result of coronavirus (either confirmed or suspected). 

Please use this updated form to provide all Regulation 16 notifications from now on. We are aware that providers may have copies of the form saved locally on their computers – please replace these with the updated version of the form.

The information you provide will help us develop a more accurate picture of the number of deaths due to COVID-19, which in turn will help us to work with system partners to mobilise the right level of support. It will also help the inform the government response, so it can put in place appropriate measures to support the health and social care system during this time.

Visit our website to access the updated form.

Contacting CQC

All Care Quality Commission offices are now closed. This means that we have stopped communicating by post, and ask that you do not send post to us. Please use other methods to contact us, details of which are available on our website 

Patients who need support whilst staying at home 14/4/2020

We know many patients are asking for wider help and support during this time – whether they are in the shielding group or not.  Here are some places you can refer them to:

Highest Clinical Risk Group (only (1.5m)               Anyone in need (including those in the highest clinical risk group)

All patients at highest clinical risk who are shielding are asked to register to the Government Support website. This service provides access to food and medications whilst at home if needed. To access this, patients must be flagged as highest clinical risk by the central process, their GP or a hospital specialist.  Please note, there may be a short delay between the flag being applied and support arriving.    NHS Volunteer Responders: you can submit a live referral for an individual that needs support or an NHS service that requires volunteers providing they meet the referring criteria athttps://www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral or on 0808 196 3382. Volunteers can provide: (1) Check in and chat support – short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation (note, this is not mental health advice); (2) Community support – collection of shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home; (3) Patient Transport – transport to take patients home who are medically fit for discharge. Health at home – is a webpage that gives them an overview of NHS services that are available, such as how to order repeat prescriptions online and get them delivered (https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral). Public Health England have provided some guidance on looking after mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic Local councils are working with voluntary sector organisations and local communities to support residents in the response to COVID-19. You can signpost them to https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council, where they can locate their council and associated website where they can find all this information The government has provided advice onemployment and financial support on their website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Consent Override 14/4/2020

TPP have re-introduced the consent override facility into SystmOne in response to the current Covid 19 pandemic. This means that a clinician has the access to override a patients record sharing preference in order to view their full patient record on SystmOne. This access have previously been available in SystmOne but was withdrawn with the introduction of the enhanced data sharing model 3 years ago. 

As a consequence of previously having this functionality, GP smartcard roles are likely to already have this consent, however salaried and locum GP’s may not.  Practice sponsors will need to review who they would like to have this level of access to patient records to make sure it’s either already included within a smartcard role for an individual clinician or needs to be added.   The clinician needs RBAC business function B0082 on their smartcard in order to be able to use this functionality. 

There are strict guidelines on when clinicians should be using this i.e only in suspected cases of COVID-19 where they are unable to obtain consent from the patient and details are included in the attached document.

NHSE Coding Guidance & Eclipse Live Lists 13/4/2020

Practices will have received, on 10^th April 2020 (Good Friday), updated guidance (dated 9^th April) on coding of patients “at risk” of COVID 19 :

https://www.cas.mhra.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspx?AlertID=103022

This guidance instructs practices to complete specific coding work by 5pm on Tuesday 14th April, against information which will be in the practice clinical systems before or by Tuesday 14^th April.

The guidance asks that practices run a search process (as defined by each clinical system provider) and clinically review patients who are identified using that search to check that the Snomed COVID 19 risk codes which have been applied are appropriate and amend if required.

Some practices may have already reviewed earlier lists of patients i.e. flu lists and will only need to cross reference with clinical system supplier lists.

Practice should not delay completion of work against latest NHSE coding guidance. 

Please note that the Eclipse live “at risk” lists which were previously agreed to be generated for practices on the 14^th April, due to a lack of clarity when the coding within clinical systems would be completed and there was an urgency around identifying people at high risk, will still be available for practices to use to ensure that all patients have been captured as part of the work above. The lists can be viewed by logging into the NHS Pathways website and selecting the COVID-19 pathway and then 'Priority Patients'.

If practices require any support with the tasks could they please speak to the Clinical Pharmacist working in their practice or by contacting Vicki Holmes, Senior Prescribing Support Technician onvictoria.holmes3@nhs.net

Specimen collections 9/4/2020

There will be three runs scheduled to cover the GP Surgeries requested, each with a morning and afternoon collection, on both Good Friday and Easter Monday (see attached schedule). Practices please note your collection times will be different to your normal collection times.   No samples must be taken after the practice afternoon collection time.

MindSpace Service 9/4/2020

The MindSpace service is still accepting referrals from GP’s, to support children, young people and families in these extreme circumstances.

All sessions are now taking place over the telephone or virtually.  The MindSpace telephone number 01226 444642 diverts to the mobile phone of a member of the MindSpace team.   The weekly CAMHS SPA meeting is still going ahead, this is now a phone call.

Wellbeing Support for our NHS people 9/4/2020

Our NHS people are doing extraordinary things in the face of an extraordinary challenge, and so need an extraordinary level of support. This is why the NHS nationally and locally has developed a range of wellbeing support to care for and protect all of our NHS people, whether at the front line or in supporting services.

So, from today, all our people will have access to a range of support (#OurNHSPeople Wellbeing Support) through one point of contact:

• a free wellbeing support helpline 0300 131 7000, available from 7.00 am – 11.00 pm seven days a week, providing emotional support from trained volunteers and onward signposting to specialist financial advice, bereavement care and coaching
• a 24/7 text alternative to the above helpline - simply text FRONTLINE to 85258
• online peer to peer, team and personal resilience support, including through Silver Cloud, and free mindfulness apps including Unmind,  Headspace Sleepio and Daylight

Smoking & Obesity data 9/4/2020

The Business Improvement & Intelligence Team at Barnsley Council have confirmed that they will no longer require the Smoking & Obesity data that was run quarterly and submitted by practices. They are now able to utilise data from other sources, therefore the BBS IT Services team will no longer be sending out amended MIQUEST searches for practices to run. If you have any questions or queries about this, please log a call via the IT Self Service Portal https://servicedesk.sheffield.nhs.uk

Sheffield Children’s Hospital - Jaundice Clinic – Changes 9/4/2020

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis Sheffield Children’s Hospital (SCH) are slightly changing the way they run the jaundice clinic to minimise face to face contact.  When a referral is made SCH would be grateful if the families can be told to expect a telephone call from a doctor running the clinic.  The baby will still need to attend hospital for blood tests in the morning prior to their clinic telephone consultation. Parents should receive a letter with a time to attend for the blood test and an expected time that the doctor will perform the telephone consultation later that day.  During the telephone consultation a full history will be taken over the phone.  The doctor will then discuss results with the families over the phone and give advice about further management or follow up if necessary. Please do let us know if you have any further questions.  This will take effect from Monday 13 April 2020.

Medical Imaging Request Prioritisation 8/4/2020

Bulletin 14 included the update that it may be several months before routine imaging activity resumes and some previously requested examinations requested as routine may require an alteration in imaging priority. This applies to studies already requested, but not performed, and all requests moving forward during the COVID crisis. 

Practices were asked to review all pending imaging requests made for their patients. This involved prioritising their referrals for medical imaging on ICE desktop.

We have been made aware of the issue that practices do not have access to the ICE desktop and the Primary Care team are liaising with the CCG’s IT System Support and BHNFT to try and sort a solution regarding access or an alternative ‘work around’.

Once this has been finalised further communication will be disseminated

GP Services 8/4/2020

Necessary changes to GP contract regulations now mean Friday 10 April (Good Friday) and Monday 13 April (Easter Monday) are defined as core hours, meaning they are normal working days for general practice, as they are for the whole NHS system.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms will continue to be advised to use NHS 111 online as the first port of call. Our expectations for general practice services on these days are that:

1. all GP practices will be open (available) in line with core hours. The exception to this is when alternative arrangements have been agreed in advance with your clinical commissioning group (CCG) e.g. where a primary care network (PCN) ensures availability to meet anticipated demand within core hours. Transferring calls to NHS 111 will not be an option.
2. remote triage will be available for delivering care and treatment wherever possible and appropriate.
3. patients identified at highest risk from COVID-19 and who have been advised to shield will continue to receive proactive clinical management support.
4. any essential face-to-face services (including home visits) that may be required will need to be delivered in line with the GP Standard Operating Procedures.

Please note, the information below will be promoted on social media during the afternoon of Wednesday 8^th April.

Volunteer Responders Service 8/4/2020

7^th April saw the launch of the NHS Volunteer Responders service where over 750,000 people have volunteered their time to drive patients to appointments, collect medicines from pharmacies and making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home. We strongly encourage all of you to make full early use of the volunteer responders for your patients. Further details on how you can make use of this resource are available here. 

Barnsley COVID Management Service (BCMS) 8/4/2020

The Barnsley COVID Management Service (BCMS) was started at 10am 02/04/2020 operating out of the Blue Clinic at Oaks Park Primary Care Centre. Please find the attached document which provides an update on the service and a request in relation to

• the information provided within the GP surgery Triage notes on the referral form (full triage notes needed)
• Consideration for exploring remote management options

Doctorlink Enhancements 8/4/2020

Doctorlink have made changes to their Product, as part of our COVID-19 Response, product enhancements have been made in line with the recent publication of the ‘RCGP Guidance on workload prioritisation during COVID-19’:

https://www.rcgp.org.uk/-/media/Files/Policy/A-Z-policy/2020/covid19/RCGP-guidance/202003233RCGPGuidanceprioritisationroutineworkduringCovidFINAL.ashx?la=en

The attached document provides further details and includes information regarding changes to routine appointments and RCGP guidance on rag rating.

Video Consultation 8/4/2020

NHS Digital have asked that all GP practices offer video consultation from the 17th April 2020 and by the end of April have e-consultation offered to patients.

Secure messaging available in the NHS App 8/4/2020

The EMIS and TPP systems enable patients to send non-urgent secure messages to their practices. Practice staff receive and respond to these in the clinical system. Around 900 practices currently use this feature.

Patients registered with EMIS practices can now use the NHS App to send and receive these messages. If a practice has already enabled messaging then patients will be able to use the app and the practice doesn't need to do anything. If an EMIS practice wants to start using this feature then they will need to enable it in the EMIS system. This feature will be enabled for patients at TPP practices in the coming weeks.

Instructions on how to set up and manage this feature in EMIS is available at https://digital.nhs.uk/appstaff

A & E discharge letters 8/4/2020

Please note that practices may be receiving A & E discharge letters with “Disease caused by 2019 novel coronavirus” in the diagnosis section.

Please be aware that this refers to the pathway they have used to triage or treat the patient and IS NOT a diagnosis and indeed their visit may be unrelated to Covid-19. Any subsequent confirmed diagnoses will be communicated in discharge summary.

Community Support for Vulnerable Patients 8/4/2020

Please see the below link which is the contact centre details for the most vulnerable needing help in the community:

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-coronavirus-advice-and-guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-emergency-contact-centre/

E-Learning 7/4/2020

Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare has created an e-learning programme in response to COVID-19 that is free to access for the entire UK health and care workforce, including those working in the NHS, the independent sector and social care. The programme includes key materials to help the health and care workforce respond to COVID-19. It includes:

• Essential Guidance from the NHS, UK Government, WHO and BMJ
• Public Health England - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Resources for Staff Working in Critical Care Setting
• Resources for Staff Working in Acute Setting
• Resources for Staff Working in Primary Care and Community Setting
• Resources for Return to Work Healthcare Staff
• Resources for Pharmacy Staff
• End of Life Care COVID-19
• Wellbeing for Staff  

Please see the full e-learning programme here for modules that may relate to your work stream/cell. The programme is continuously being updated so please check back regularly for updates.

Bank Holiday IT Support 7/4/2020

The IT service desk will be providing support to practices via the usual routes on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Suicide liaison service still available during this time 7/4/2020

Please see attached Service update from Amparo with details for referrals. Amparo is the suicide liaison service across our area offering timely support following a suspected suicide. The aim of the service is to reduce the risk for those affected by suicide at any time by offering timely and practical information and guidance following a sudden bereavement.

Medical Imaging Request Prioritisation 7/4/2020

It may be several months before routine imaging activity resumes and some previously requested examinations requested as routine may require an alteration in imaging priority. This applies to studies already requested, but not performed, and all requests moving forward during the COVID crisis.

Please could you now review all pending imaging requests you have made for your patients and follow the process outlined in the attached two documents to ensure any requests are prioritised accordingly.

• COVID imaging request prioritisation
• How to review requests on ICE by clinicians

Barnsley Pharmacy Opening times Easter Sunday 6/4/2020

Barnsley Pharmacy Opening times Easter Sunday For information

GPhC update for community pharmacy 6/4/2020

Latest updated on COVID-19 from General Pharmaceutical Council

Nominated pharmacy live in the NHS App 6/4/2020

 Patients can now view, set and change their electronic prescription service (EPS) pharmacy nomination using the NHS App. Being able to update nominations in the NHS App means patients can easily have their prescriptions sent directly to the pharmacy closest to their home or to a pharmacy that can deliver their medicines, helping to reduce unnecessary travel. Having a pharmacy nomination in EPS removes the need to collect FP10s from GP practices and drop them off at a pharmacy, supporting the public to observe social distancing. This new feature does not apply to dispensing practices or Dispensing Appliance Contractors. To nominate an online-only pharmacy, users must register with the pharmacy through their website or contact them.

Easter opening of pharmacies 6/4/2020

We would like to thank each and every member of the community pharmacy teams for their significant contribution in supporting their patients and customers, as a vital part of the NHS response to COVID 19, in what we know have been extremely trying circumstances. 

Things are moving quickly, and as you will understand a crucial phase of the pandemic will be ongoing over what is usually the long Easter weekend but for the NHS more widely this is likely to be an extremely busy time. As an important part of the overall NHS response to the pandemic pharmacies at this crucial time will need to be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

GPs will be open for business as usual on both Good Friday and Easter Monday.  In support of this we will need access to NHS pharmaceutical services on these days.

Under the National Health Service (Amendments Relating to the Provision of Primary Care Services During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations 2020 and with agreement of the Secretary of State we are requiring pharmacies in England to open from 2pm to 5pm on 10 April 2020 and 13 April 2020.

Any pharmacy that was planning to open longer hours should still to do so to support access for patients through the day.  If you believe your pharmacy is unable to open for reasons beyond the control of the contractor, then you should notify their NHS England and NHS Improvement regional office in the usual way and importantly update the NHS 111 DoS to prevent patients being referred to your pharmacy from NHS 111 when it is not open.  Please make sure NHS website profiles include correct opening hours to support patient access.

Community pharmacies in areas where there is minimal demand due to the Government’s social distancing policy (e.g. large shopping malls) should seek exemption from their NHS England and NHS Improvement Regional team.

Contractors will be able to claim a payment over and above the £2,592 million settlement for opening these hours. In line with the fact that this will look like a normal working day for the rest of the NHS, the rate will not reflect a bank or public holiday premium.

Healthy Lives Team at BHNFT – onward referrals 6/4/2020

The Healthy Lives Team at BHNFT have shared the attached list of onward referrals routes they are offering hospital patients to support with health and wellbeing.

The second document details websites, phone numbers and email address.

Just for clarity the Healthy Lives Team cannot accept referrals from outside of BHNFT.

Video Consultation 6/4/2020

If you have installed a video consultation tool within practice please inform Primary Care on Barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net by Wednesday 15^th April, stating which tool you have implemented and when.

Please note - A list of approved online and video consultation suppliers that can be immediately called off by commissioners via the Dynamic Procurement System (DPS) framework is available here. NHS Digital has also fast tracked assurance of video products on the new Digital Care Services Framework (DCS, also known as GPIT Futures). This confirms that practices who use video products through the DCSF can be confident that they are appropriate and secure. Commissioners can draw products off either framework and both will be centrally funded. 

Barnsley CCG are strongly endorsing Doctorlink as the platform to be used for online consultations and video consultation.

Admission and care of residents during COVID-19: Incident in a care home 6/4/2020

Guidance has been published for care homes, local health protection teams, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and registered providers of accommodation for people who need personal or nursing care. This new guidance sets out how to admit and care for residents safely, and protect care home staff.

Enhanced Health in Care Homes framework expanded 6/4/2020

In the NHS Long Term Plan, the NHS committed to supporting people who live and work in and around care homes better. The new GP contract requires Primary Care and Community Services to work with their aligned care homes on delivering this objective, through the Enhanced Health in Care Homes framework. To support this, the framework has now been expanded.

Home oxygen supply during the COVID-19 outbreak 6/4/2020

Please find attached letter regarding security of oxygen supply and requests for COVID-19 Home oxygen concentrators. Please note, if patients require home oxygen then please ensure Baywater Health are informed on HOOF when ordered.

Please also see the 'Good HOOF guide for primary care and out of hours teams'. 

Lab Results/ Safehaven email accounts 3/4/2020

We have been informed that the integrated lab service are struggling to contact practices with highly abnormal results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect patients. As a result of this we have issued the lab with practices Safehaven email addresses therefore please can you ensure that these email addresses are been monitored.  

Online and video consultation products now available  3/4/2020

A list of approved online and video consultation suppliers that can be immediately called off by commissioners via the Dynamic Procurement System (DPS) framework is available here. NHS Digital has also fast tracked assurance of video products on the new Digital Care Services Framework (DCS, also known as GPIT Futures). This confirms that practices who use video products through the DCSF can be confident that they are appropriate and secure. Commissioners can draw products off either framework and both will be centrally funded. 

Barnsley CCG are strongly endorsing Doctorlink as the platform to be used for online consultations.

PDA Payments 3/4/2020

We currently have an issue with SBS regarding the PDA payments that were due to be processed on the 1 April 2020. This issue has been escalated and we will continue to check its progress. However, we want to assure practices that on Monday 6 April 2020 we will process a BACs run which would mean that payments will be with practices by Wednesday 8 April. If the BACs run is unable to go ahead we will instead process a Faster Payments on Monday 6 April and payments will be with practices on the same day. Further updates will be communicated on Monday 6 April.

BCMS referral form 3/4/2020

The Barnsley Covid-19 Management Service (‘hot clinic’) referral form has been amended by the clinical application support team for use within the clinical systems. Original copies of the letter can be found attached here.

Wound Care Update 3/4/2020

Due to more patients self-caring for their wound dressings, please find attached an update with regards to receiving requests from patients for dressings, adherence to formulary and supply.

Barnsley COVID Management Service (BCMS) 3/4/2020

We are proud to announce that the Barnsley COVID Management Service (BCMS) was started at 10am 02/04/2020 operating out of the Blue Clinic at Oaks Park Primary Care Centre. I know some of you have already referred but some of you also have some questions or knowledge gaps on how to refer and when to refer. Due to this, I would like to explain elements of the service.

• The service will operate 1000 – 2200 7 days a week. GP surgeries will refer by sending the COVID Management Service referral form to barnsleyccg.iheart365@nhs.net. Please see a copy of the attached referral letter for inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• The GP Surgery should explore all virtual options available, both a telephone and video consultation. If the patient cannot be safely managed through these means and fits in to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, then a referral to the BCMS should be considered where appropriate
• A full detailed clinical assessment will be required for us to accept the referral and complete a F2F assessment and this should be included in the referral letter. If this is not on the form, then it may be referred back to the practice
• For patients who are housebound or do not have private transport and have symptoms of COVID 19, we can arrange a home visit to see the patient F2F. Our home visiting practitioners may require a conversation with the patient’s own GP similar to how the i-HEART Home visiting service continues to operate.
• The i-HEART OOH and Extended Hours service have capacity to book directly in to this clinic to support patients when GP Surgeries are closed. We are looking in to NHS 111 direct referrals capacity.

Breathe Service 2/4/2020

The BREATHE service are providing an amended service during COVID-19 to enable them to provide expertise support and guidance for those acute respiratory patients within the hospital. Please find attached information detailing the revised service offer which includes: 

• Hot clinics
• Oxygen Review’s
• Inpatient assessment and review
• Admission avoidance
• COVID-19 telephone triage/ risk assessment

Consultations for patients requiring non-spoken and spoken translation 2/4/2020

As we move to a Total Triage Model in General Practice and more remote working, we need to ensure the needs of patients requiring non-spoken and spoken translation can still be met. Here are some tips for how this can be done:

• Please ensure your deaf patients have a means to book an appointment – don’t assume they can book online or by phone; do assure you have an agreed communication route (which may include online booking, textphone, email, text)
• Online consultation software used to allow for type based or interpreter led communication (in addition to video consultation) with patients and/or their carer.
• Microsoft Teams is also available for use by NHSmail accounts and can be used for 3-way video calls between clinicians, interpreters and patients.
• If face to face consultation is required due to the patients’ health needs, consider whether an interpreter could still join remotely through laptops/smartphones or use written communication.
• Take the necessary precautions for any COVID-19 patients including use of PPE as per relevant guidance’s. Discuss with your commissioner options for including an interpreter for these consultations.

Remember to check the patients records beforehand to understand their communication needs

New IT service 1/4/2020

The new BBS IT Services has launched today, Wednesday 1st April 2020. 

BBS IT is a in house service hosted by NHS Sheffield CCG on behalf of the CCG’s and GP’s in Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Sheffield. The team contains a wealth of knowledge and expertise built up over years of providing support within the NHS and particularly the area covered by the 3 CCG’s. There will be a number of familiar names and faces that you will no doubt know and trust who will continue to offer you their support moving forward.

We will be striving to deliver an excellent service across IT , that both our userbase and staff can be proud of. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the BBS IT Service, we would encourage users to investigate the self-service portal prior to calling the Service Desk.

Escalations can be made through the service desk and then through your Service Delivery Manager Mike Overton (michael.overton@nhs.net)

Please see the flow chart attached (IT Service Launch) to assist with when and how to raise an issue with IT.

COVID-19 messaging service 1/4/2020

The NHS has launched a new NHS messaging service for people staying at home suffering with suspected coronavirus symptoms.  Daily texts will be sent by the NHS to new patients who register their Covid-19 symptoms and contact details with the 111 online service.  The messages will check how people are, and ensure that those who need help to get them through the isolation period receive it.

PDA Payments 1/4/2020

Invoices do not need to be submitted at this stage, manual payments will be made tomorrow (2 April 2020), which you will hopefully see in your practice bank account within 3 working days. You will be paid the difference of what you are due for the 19/20 PDA and there will be no achievement calculations formulated. This is to recognise the work carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For 20/21 you will be paid 4 months’ worth of your practice entitlement, Rachel Barraclough will be circulating individual emails to practices with a breakdown.

COVID-19 testing to support retention of NHS staff 31/3/2020

Recent communication from NHS England has asked that we start this week with those working in critical care, emergency departments and ambulance services, and any other high priority groups we determine locally. We will then sequentially expand to other NHS staff groups as more tests are made available to the NHS, and ultimately into other essential public services including social care. NHSE are also working to establish further community testing centres, with the priority being to get these centres established in the areas currently facing the greatest challenges. Finally, we would like to reassure you that we are pushing hard to get the NHS access to more staff testing in the days to come.

PDA Payments 31/3/2020

The CCG will be paying practices 2019/20 PDA payments and 2020/21 April - July payments on 1 April 2020.

New IT service 31/3/2020

The new planned in-house IT service for Barnsley, Bassetlaw Sheffield, CCGs will go live on 1 April 2020. (see additional information attached)

To help maintain continuity of service, there will only be minimal changes from day one. As such, there will be no change in service, apart from a new helpdesk phone number and portal. We’ll be focusing on stability and delivering the projects already up and running, for example, Windows 10 rollout, HSCN, and RAS solution as well as providing support during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Barnsley COVID-19 Management Service (BCMS) or ‘Hot Clinic’ 31/3/2020

BHF in collaboration with Barnsley CCG are creating a COVID-19 Management Service.  The service has been set up for the express purposes of seeing patients diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19.  This clinic at present will not be used for testing.

We are working to have the service setup and live from Thursday this week, when we plan to start accepting referrals.  Please use the attached form to send referrals to our mailbox.  Until the eMBED handover is complete the Practices will need to complete this manually. Full details of the service are included within the attached overview document.

The service will consist of Home Visiting and Face to Face Clinics.  The first face to face clinic will be based at Oaks Park, in the Memory Assessment Centre.  The service is not operating from Ashville Medical Practice and patients should not be told they will be seen at Ashville.  We will follow the same procedure at other clinics.

The Blue Clinic, as it will be known, is located to the left of the main entrance of Oaks Park and is accessible by its own entrance.  The clinic will operate 7 days a week between the hours of 10am and 10pm. Other hub sites will open in the future if required across the Borough of Barnsley.  A second Clinic, will be set up at Shafton shortly.  This will be known as the Orange Clinic.  Closer to the launch we will provide full details of this Clinic.

Patient safety is our priority and we have taken steps to ensure that the clinic is in line with Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) measures and we will continue to ensure thorough cleaning takes place after every patient visits the clinic. The intention will be for patients to come one at a time and park in the designated area.  Patients will be asked to remain in their car until they are collected by a member of staff.  They will be taken directly into the consultation room. This streamlined approach will ensure that the patient’s time on the premises is managed effectively and as efficiently as possible to reduce spread of the disease. At the end of the appointment, our admin member of staff will see the patient to their car before returning to the clinic.

If you have any questions please contact Shelley Gartside (shelley.gartside@nhs.net).

We are looking for GPs and Admin staff to work in the clinics.  PPE in line with national guidance and training is provide.  If you are interested, please send an email to Thomas.croker1@nhs.net  or Carol.barker14@nhs.net to discuss further.

MSK Referrals 30/3/2020

The MSK service is receiving a lot of queries from GP practices about what to refer.

 To clarify:

• Secondary care are no longer accepting routine referrals to orthopaedics  or Rheumatology – they will still accept URGENT referrals.
• Any Routine orthopaedic/rheumatology referrals will be rejected back to the GP practices, with advice to re refer once services return to normal.
• The MSK service is still running a telephone MSK service to assess and advice Physiotherapy and ESP patients

Total Triage Model 30/3/2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement have produced a guide to support all GP practices in England with the rapid implementation of a ‘total triage’ model using telephone and online consultation tools. Please see attached Remote total triage document. 

Locally the system we have in place to assist you is Doctorlink. We would encourage you to implement this tool in a “connected” state as per the attached guidance.

Changes to patient transport services from 28 March 2020  30/3/2020

Please see attached ‘PTS Acute Trusts’ letter for information regarding PTS. 

In summary; patient transport services will change from 28 March 2020. From this date, they will no longer take the majority of patients to routine/general outpatient appointments and clinics, as they prioritise their resources for the most vulnerable patients and continue to support trusts to free-up inpatient and critical care capacity and discharge medically fit patients.

As a consequence of these changes, routine journeys to non-essential clinics will be suspended from Saturday 28 March 2020 until further notice.

Journeys will continue for;

• patients who need essential life-saving treatment such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other cancer treatment;
• in-patients who are medically fit for discharge;
• transfers between healthcare facilities; and
• appropriate admissions.

COVID-19 rapid guidelines 30/3/2020

We are working closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop rapid guidelines on topics relevant to the management of COVID-19. These will be published weekly and will focus on a range of clinical settings.

In addition, we are producing rapid evidence reviews on medicines used to manage COVID-19 and its symptoms.

All of our COVID-19 guidelines and evidence reviews will be published on the NICE website. Enquiries about this work should be sent to nice@nice.org.uk

BHNFT – Covid-19 Latest updates 30/3/2020

Coronavirus is a rapidly evolving situation, the latest information around how this might affect appointments and visiting times at BHNFT can be found here: https://www.barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk/covid-19-coronavirus/.

HSCN 27/3/2020

HSCN migrations are still happening and the team will continue to contact practices to arrange this. If practices have any  concerns regarding the migration, please contact the Primary Care email account: barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net  or designated telephone numbers: 01226 433774 diverted to 07984 445508.

Doctorlink 27/3/2020

The CCG is urging practices to utilise Doctorlink, the online consultation tool.  In particular we would recommend practices utilise the “connected” state, In the current climate all outcomes reached by patients are resulting in telephone triage only, by being “connected” patients can be booked directly into a telephone appointment slot. This will reduce both clinician time as the patient has already been triaged, and administration time as you will not be required to call the patient back to book them into a slot. As the pressures on General Practice Workforce increase, preparing for a “connected” state now is strongly recommended.

Please contact tara@doctorlink.com and Barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net to arrange.

Doctorlink can also provide practices with links to promote the online consultation tool on your website to encourage patient uptake.

111 Disposition - “Speak to Clinical Assessment Service” 27/3/2020

A new pathways version has recently gone live, and the disposition is “Speak to Clinical Assessment service within xx hours COVID risk” can now be reached.

All GP practices are profiled for this disposition and will be referred to by 111 as a result of this. Practices do not need to call the patient back as the patient will be advised to call themselves. These are patients who need further clinical assessment to determine what is the best course of action for them to take. They will not under any circumstances be advised to attended the practice. Practices will continue to receive a call summary of all disposotions, therefore could follow up any patients who have not contacted the practice if they wish.

Branch Surgeries 26/3/2020

If practices are struggling to staff their branch sites and are looking to consolidate their sites, please can you contact Julie Frampton Via the Primary Care email account: barnsleyccg.primarycare@nhs.net  or the designated telephone numbers: 01226 433774 / 07984 445508

Routine Bloods 26/3/2020

Both BHNFT phlebotomy and SWYPFT are seeing a big increase in requests from practices for routine bloods. However, due to the current situation with Covid-19, they are struggling in trying to carry out our Priority 1 visits and increasing discharges from acute care. Please can practices be mindful of this when sending requests and only send requests that are essential/urgent.

Daily Workforce Return 26/3/2020

Thank you for completing the workforce returns as requested by the CCG on Friday. We have now received all of the workforce returns/ spoken with each practice regarding their workforce and current capacity. This information has been extremely useful as the CCG starts to look at solutions to ensure that practices are supported through this difficult time. We have reviewed all of this information and have agreed that the returns should now be submitted each Monday only and not every day as previously requested, realising the additional strain that this was putting on practices. We have assessed which practices are currently coping well and which practices are having to take additional measures to ensure service delivery and plans have been put in place to support these practices.

As part of this work we are working behind the scenes to create neighbourhood resilience plans that can be put in place should the situation worsen. Therefore, if your practice starts to experience any issues with service delivering please contact the Primary Care Team as soon as possible to ensure that the practice receives the right support at the earliest opportunity.

IAPT Update 25/3/2020

Due to the current situation with Covid-19 all face to face and group assessments and treatments have been cancelled.

However the service is still open and therapists are working from home and are continuing to assess and treat people via the telephone. Going forward the service will not be able to collect referrals sent to the team post. Therefore the service would be grateful if all referrals were sent via email to this address: SWY-TR.BarnsleyIAPT@nhs.net

Routine Bloods 25/3/2020

SWYPFT are seeing a big increase in requests from practices for routine bloods. However, due to the current situation with Covid-19, they are struggling in trying to carry out our Priority 1 visits and increasing discharges from acute care. Please can practices be mindful of this when sending requests.

NHS Supply Chain 25/3/2020

Please see attached letter regarding guidance and supply and use of PPE

National Supply Disruption Response 24/3/2020

For all issues over and above BAU orders already in the system or where there is an emergency need for PPE, please use the following point of contact to escalate:

National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) unit on:

Freephone number in the UK: 0800 915 9964

Direct line: 0044 (0) 191 283 6543

Email: supplydisruptionservice@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

This a 24 hours, 7 days a week monitored account which applies to all providers, regardless of whether or not you currently have an NHS Supply Chain account

Regional Covid-19 Incident Coordination Centre

Procurement and Logistics Advice Cell

Emergency Preparedness, Resilience & Response (EPRR) for Yorkshire & the Humber

NHS England & NHS Improvement – North East & Yorkshire

Practice Delivery Agreement 24/3/202

Practices are reminded (as per letter dated from Dr Balac 19^th March - attached) that any further work related to PDA 2019-20 has now ceased, including end of year submission requirements and to ensure that practice income is protected in line with guidance, the will pay practices:

• the balance of 2019/20 PDA funding allocated in full 
• pay 4 months of the 2020/21 PDA funding allocated

COVID-19: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme NDPP 23/3/2020

• Group-based face-to-face delivery of the NHS NDPP has stopped from Friday 20 March 2020.
• Participants who have already begun group-based face-to-face services WILL move to a remote delivery model, following the same curriculum.  
• Participants who have already begun the digital service will continue as planned.
• Current people who have started the programme or have been referred will be contacted by the provider about the changes taking place.
• Participants who have not started a programme yet, or who are referred over the coming months, will be offered a remote or digital programme. This will include a phone option for those who are not digitally enabled. The referral process still remains the same for Practices.  
• For participants who have been referred and decline remote delivery and express a preference for face-to-face groups, they can wait until normal face-to-face delivery is resumed, and they will not be discharged in the interim.

Package for staff working on COVID-19 who need to use a hotel 23/3/2020

NHS England/NHS Improvement have established a single process for NHS staff to be able to secure accommodation at hotels within their immediate area, should this be necessary. The attached PowerPoint document outlines eligibility and the process for booking. Anyone requesting accommodation through the central  booking system, should contact the CCG so we can ensure our Finance team is aware.

SurfacePro and Laptops 23/3/2020

Please be assured that any requests that practices have sent to Embed in regards to setting up Surface Pros and Laptops have been logged and Embed are currently working through these requests. To help Embed have produced this ‘Surface Pro and Laptop User Guide’. 

Costs for deep cleaning 23/3/2020

Any practices requiring deep cleaning services should pay for this and submit an invoice to the CCG for reimbursement from the central NHS COVID-19 fund.

COVID-19: Adaptations to NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme 20/3/2020

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Adaptations-to-the-NHS-Diabetes-Prevention-Programme_19-March.pdf

Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehab Groups/referrals 20/3/2020

Due to the Covid 19 crisis both the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Services suspended its group exercise programmes from lunchtime on Wednesday 18^th March 2020. The service continues to receive and process its referrals but at this time these patients are being added to a waiting list and notified accordingly that the service is temporary suspended. Cardiac patients referred following an MI or surgery are receiving at this time a telephonic contact from a nurse within the service to replicate the f2f home visit contact that they would have received usually. 

Get Fit First 20/3/2020

The Get Fit First exercise scheme continues as normal. However we have, understandably, not received any referrals for a few days and of those that were attending the programme, some have requested that they postpone any further attendance until the situation becomes clearer. We are committed to offering patients referred under the programme the best opportunities and support to help them lose weight, and have therefore ‘relaxed’ our policy that the programme is 12 consecutive weeks in order for them to have time away from attending.