BEST Events – Held @ Shaw Lane Sports Club, Barnsley
For further information the BEST Portal Website can be accessed at http://best.barnsleyccg.nhs.uk/
Medicines Management
Shared care and Amber-G guidelines can be found at the following link: http://best.barnsleyccg.nhs.uk/clinical-support/medicines/shared-care-guidelines/ An overview of Shared Care guidelines, including the Principles of Shared Care is available to read here.
Prescribers (including secondary care clinicians) are encouraged to report any problems they experience with shared care or other medicines related issue, particularly where guidelines are not being complied with, to the following email address: BarnsleyAPCReport@nhs.net.
With secondary care opening up activity and undertaking remote consultations, it has been reported that there has been increased pressure in primary care to undertake things they wouldn’t normally. Due to this, the APC reporting has been temporarily expanded to capture any issues and these can be fed into the APC. The hospitals need this information so that issues can be addressed.
Practices can now report any interface issues they have, as much as possible, via Barnsley LMC, which will then be submitted to the hospitals.
A list of Prescribing Guidelines is available to view here.
The Barnsley Area Joint Formulary is available to view here.
Medicines Management monthly Newsletters are available to view here.
Workload Shift
Barnsley LMC would like to remind all practices it is important that we receive examples of any workload shift. Please provide examples of workload shift to barnsley.lmc@nhs.net in order that these can be taken to the meeting with Secondary Care.
Barnsley LMC would like to inform practices that if there are any examples of workload shift from Sheffield Hospitals they can now be emailed to Sth.Impagsheffield@nhs.net.
Safe working in general practice
The BMA’s England GP committee (GPCE) has generated the following guide to enable practices to prioritise safe patient care, within the present bounds of the GMS contract.
The Independent Prescribing in Community Pharmacy ‘Pathfinder’ Programme
NHS England has published information on its Independent Prescribing Pathfinder programme for community pharmacy. In September 23 South Yorkshire ICB announced that we would be hosting 10 Pathfinder sites. This will enable us to test the different ways that independent prescribing in community pharmacy will benefit patients. It is also a great opportunity for us to work together to redesign pathways and increase the use of the clinical skills within community pharmacy, informing the future of community pharmacy commissioning and ensuring that pharmacists will be able to utilise their prescribing qualification whilst working in the community pharmacy sector.
The attached briefing provides an update on the SY Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder (IP Pathfinder) programme.
The IP Pathfinder Programme is a major development for community pharmacy and we hope that general practice teams will be keen to support and work with Pathfinder sites selected to deliver a successful programme.
Barnsley Pharmacies Signed Up to the Contraception Service Scheme
Below is a list of which pharmacies are signed up to the contraception service scheme in Barnsley. We are not sure if they are actively providing ongoing contraception. As far as we are aware the pharmacies are doing Tier 1 at present
- Tier 1 – Ongoing monitoring and supply of repeat oral contraception (OC);
- Tier 2 – Initiation of OC via a Patient Group Direction (PGD);
- Tier 3 – Ongoing monitoring and management of repeat long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), excluding intrauterine systems (IUS) and intrauterine devices (IUD); and
- Tier 4 – Initiation of LARCs.
| 01/12/23 | WARWICK HEALTHCARE LIMITED | 12 HIGHAM COMMON ROAD | BARUGH GREEN | 01226 391881 |
| 01/12/23 | AKRAM ZA LTD | 22 HIGH STREET | WOMBWELL | 0 |
| 01/12/23 | MCKAY HEALTHCARE LTD | 3 HIGH STREET | SILKSTONE | 01226 791838 |
| 01/12/23 | BESTWAY NATIONAL CHEMISTS LIMITED | 244 BARNSLEY ROAD | CUDWORTH | 0 |
| 04/12/23 | GORGEMEAD LIMITED | 7 CEMETERY ROAD | 0 | 01226 282157 |
| 04/12/23 | GORGEMEAD LIMITED | APOLLO COURT | 45 HIGH STREET, DODWORTH | 01226 203921 |
| 04/12/23 | GORGEMEAD LIMITED | 16-18 MARKET STREET | HOYLAND | 01226 743223 |
| 04/12/23 | GORGEMEAD LIMITED | 199 KING STREET | HOYLAND | 01226 749062 |
| 04/12/23 | GORGEMEAD LIMITED | WALDERSLADE SURGERY | HIGH CROFT, HOYLAND | 01226 746310 |
| 04/12/23 | LP SD EIGHTY LIMITED | BARNS. TRANS. INTERCHANGE | 32-34 MIDLAND STREET | 01226 289620 |
| 14/12/23 | BOOKACHEMIST RECRUITMENT LIMITED | 4 ROTHERHAM ROAD | GREAT HOUGHTON | 01226 757340 |
| 04/12/23 | MEDS2U LIMITED | 1 CHURCH STREET | DARFIELD | 01226 270240 |
| 16/01/24 | ASDA STORES LTD | ASDA SUPERSTORE | OLD MILL LANE | 01226 704810 |
| 25/01/24 | PICKFORDS PHARMACY LIMITED | 65 KNOLLBECK LANE | BRAMPTON | 01226 341281 |
| 31/01/24 | SH PHARMA LTD | 148-150 SHEFFIELD ROAD | BIRDWELL | 01226 350218 |
If you need any further information about the scheme there is the attached link below
https://cpe.org.uk/national-pharmacy-services/advanced-services/pharmacy-contraception-service/
Opening of Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre (MEOC)
One piece of good news that will help waiting times is the opening this week of the Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre, or MEOC for short, at Montagu Hospital. The centre, which cost £15m to build and just six months to construct, will operate as an orthopaedic surgical hub for knee and hip replacements, and a few other orthopaedic surgical procedures. Although it will begin as a five-day service, we’re expecting this to expand to six days by the middle of this year.
With Mexborough’s central location within South Yorkshire the centre is a collaboration between the three trusts in Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley. Alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre at the hospital, this is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by bringing people together. It’s also a great example of creating capacity for planned surgical activity separate from emergency work so that it is less affected by seasonal pressure. Great news for South Yorkshire people!
As a collaboration between three hospital trusts in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, patients requiring surgery for orthopaedic procedures will be given the option of choosing to have their surgery at the MEOC service or be treated at their usual hospital.
More GP Appointments Delivered
Four million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic. Data published shows more than 31.4 million appointments (excluding vaccinations) were delivered by GP practices in November 2023, making it the busiest November on record for GP teams. More than two fifths (42.6%) of appointments were booked and attended on the same day, up 3.3% on the previous month and almost seven in ten appointments were attended within seven days of booking, up 4.5% on the previous month. Other appointments such as vaccinations and routine follow up appointments are booked further in advance.
Medical Examiners Regulations
NHS bodies will appoint medical examiners to provide independent scrutiny of causes of death and to be a contact for bereaved people who want to ask questions or raise concerns. The draft regulations set out medical examiners’ terms of appointment, training and payment, the procedure for independence, and additional functions. The draft regulations may be amended before coming into force in April 2024.
Have Your Say On The Future Of General Practice – Survey from BMA
Next year marks both the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the 2004 GMS contract, and the end of the current 2019-24 five-year investment framework. A general election is also likely at some point in the year, and potentially, a new government. With change comes opportunity, and a window to influence how we deliver patient care now and for the years ahead. Manifestos from the main political parties, think tanks, charities, and other health bodies will seek to influence these changes. In advance of these, GPC England will publish its own vision outlining the future direction for general practice by those who know it best: GPs themselves. This is where you come in. We want to give you a voice. If you only respond to one survey make it this one. We want to hear from all fully qualified GPs in England, whether you’re a BMA member or not.
The survey will close on Sunday 21 January 2024. Please complete the survey as soon possible, to ensure our negotiating position is as strong as possible. You can also access the survey by scanning the code below.
Buying Group Recruitment Support
The LMC Buying Group understand that recruitment is often an expensive and time-consuming business, so they created an eye-catching, easy to use recruitment page where any registered member can post their clinical and non-clinical vacancies at no cost.
They also offer practices the opportunity to feature their vacancies with a featured package which comes at a small fee.
What they offer
As well as posting the job on their website, they also highlight any new job posting at least once across their social media platforms. This is a free service to any member practice interested in expanding their vacancy reach beyond their region.
They have also introduced a ‘Featured Job’ option for those members that want to draw more attention to their advert. The featured role will appear at the top of the Jobs page in a bright colour and be highlighted on their social media channels each week for a month. This service only costs £50 +VAT.
To place an advert, visit the Jobs page GP Practice Vacancies, UK | LMC Buying Group (lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk) and upload your vacancy using the application form template. If you choose the Featured Advert option, they will send you an invoice once the advert has been posted online.
LMC Buying Group
Buying Group Support for PCNs and Federations
The Buying Group have developed an initiative for GP practices working together so they can help each other save money on their purchasing.
They provide a bespoke service by loaning out their procurement consultant Gary, who has over 35 years procurement’ experience and 15 years specific to healthcare. Gary will work with your group e.g. Primary Care Network (PCN) or GP federation to help identify savings that can be made with Buying Group suppliers.
The Process
1. Gary will carry out a cost analysis for up to three practices you nominate within your group
2. The findings of this cost analysis will be presented to the three nominated practices and then to the entire group
3. Gary can answer any questions you have about the suppliers and if you are happy, they can help your group of practices switch to Buying Group approved suppliers.
The Buying Group have been helping individual members save money on the products and services they regularly buy for over 15 years and can now support groups of providers in the same way.
Email the Buying Group at info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk to find out more.
Are you making the most of your Buying Group membership?
When was the last time you reviewed how much your practice is spending on the products and services you regularly buy?
The cost of living crisis is really starting to bite and even GP practices will be looking for ways to reduce running costs.
This is where your free membership to the LMC Buying Group can really come in handy as it offers practices access to discounts on a wide range of products and services. They can help you save money on the following areas:
- Medical consumables and equipment
- Stationery, Office equipment and furniture
- Workwear
- Insurance
- Confidential information shredding
- Energy
- Recovery Oxygen
- Trade Waste Management
- Telecoms
- Test and Calibration
- Online Training
- DBS Checks Processing
The Buying Group suppliers won’t just offer you a great price one week and then ramp up the price the next so you can be assured that if you order from their suppliers, you’ll get a great price every time you shop meaning you don’t have to ‘shop around’ to find the best deal every month anymore.
If you’re not sure whether you’re a member and/or have access to the Buying Group website (this is where you can view the pricing/discounts and get quotes) then contact the Buying Group team on 0115 979 6910 or info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk. They can also help you with any questions you might have about your membership or the suppliers.
LMC Buying Group
A Reminder about LMC Buying Group Membership
The LMC Buying Group helps GP practices save money on products and services they regularly buy. The Buying Group have negotiated excellent discounts on a wide range of products and services from their approved suppliers.
Buying Group membership is completely free and there is no compulsion to use all the suppliers. They do the hard work associated with finding the most competitive suppliers in cost and customer service, so they save you time as well as money on your purchasing!
Although the Buying Group was originally set up to help GP practices save money on the products and services they regularly buy, membership is now also open to GP Federations and Primary Care Networks.
Why use the Buying Group?
- No membership fees
- Excellent negotiated discounts from a range of suppliers
- Quality products and services
- Free cost analysis for members
- No need to ‘shop around’ anymore – we’ve done the hard work already!
- Access to a recruitment platform to advertise your clinical and non-clinical roles for free and a premium ‘Featured Job’ package for a small fee.
- Access to a community resource hub
If you’re not sure whether you’re a member and/or have access to the Buying Group website (this is where you can view the pricing/discounts and get quotes) then contact the Buying Group team on 0115 979 6910 or info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk . They can also help you with any questions you might have about your membership or the suppliers.