Issue 171
Newsletter June 2022
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.
Referral Requirements GP Open Access Ambulatory Monitoring Service
As of 1st June 2022, all referrals received through the GP Open Access Ambulatory Monitoring Service will need to provide additional information:
All referrals will need to be accompanied by a recent 12 Lead ECG
All referrals will need to state an accurate frequency of symptoms
Referrals for lone or infrequent syncope/dizziness will receive 24 Hour Ambulatory Monitor as standard.
These additional requirements have been discussed with, and approved by Cardiologists and Clinical Lead Cardiologist. Referrals which do not adhere to the above may be returned which will delay the investigation.
Menopause guideline update
NICE has outlined what aspects of menopause care will be updated in upcoming guidance, including areas where more research is needed.
Leadership development programme for pharmacists
With pharmacists and community pharmacy offering a wider range of services to local populations the need for them to work in partnership with general practices and primary care networks (PCNs) is essential.
Constitutions of integrated care boards
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) will be established on 1 July 2022.
GP surgeries to provide specialist mental health support
Thousands of new mental health experts will be on hand to support people in their local GP practice amid record demand for services, the head of the NHS announced today.
Fully trained experts from local NHS trusts will offer people with severe mental health problems such as bipolar, psychosis or eating disorders, a consultation, treatment, peer support, or a referral to hospital teams without needing a GP appointment.
The new service, described by one patient as making her feel like “a different person” ensures people are offered appointments with mental experts which are up to three times longer than a standard GP appointment, meaning more time for their needs to be assessed.
The NHS is providing funding for two mental health practitioners for every group of GP practices in a local area, meaning up to 2,500 mental health experts will be providing additional support.
Introduction of the new roles will see primary care and mental health trusts working together to offer one single service to patients, while family doctors time will be freed up to focus on routine care.
Almost 500 mental health practitioners including community psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists and mental health occupational therapists are already working in GP surgeries across England.
Demand for NHS mental health services has significantly increased following the pandemic – and the NHS is treating more children and young people than ever before, with over a fifth more children treated this year compared to before the NHS Long Term Plan.
The number of adults referred to community mental health services has also increased by nearly one fifth since the start of the pandemic.
New review sets out action to improve patient access to primary care
Neighbourhood teams must be central to improving access to primary care for patients, a new review has said today.
The teams, evolving from Primary Care Networks, should bring together general practice with other parts of the health and care system to improve access and offer regular support to those with complex needs such as elderly people or those with long-term conditions.
Dr Claire Fuller’s review, published today, was commissioned by NHS England to assess how newly formed Integrated Care Systems and primary care could work together to improve care for patients.
The new systems, which go live on 1 July this year, bring together hospital, community and mental health trusts, GPs and other primary care services with local authorities and other care providers to improve access, experience, and outcomes for their local communities.
Dr Fuller, a practising GP, engaged with around 1,000 people across the health sector and has said there should be:
- Better access to urgent primary care services for patients – ensuring people who need it can be assessed on the same day and offering more choices to those who do not regularly use health services.
- Improved support to patients who need ongoing care by combining primary care and community teams and ensuring they see the same clinicians on a regular basis.
- Help to make people live well for longer by working with local government and the voluntary sector to seek out people who need more support before their health problems escalate.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard, who commissioned the review, will now work with colleagues across the system to implement the recommendations.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive said: “General practice is the bedrock of the NHS, acting as the front door to healthcare with GPs and other primary care professionals providing treatment, advice and support to more than one million patients everyday.
“I have heard how much people value access to these vital services which is why I commissioned this stocktake to ensure that as we join up services through Integrated Care Systems, we make it as convenient as possible for everyone to get the right care for their needs at the right time.
“I am grateful to Claire Fuller for completing this important work, I welcome the recommendations and look forward to working with colleagues across the NHS to implement them”.
Dr Claire Fuller, said: “As a GP, I know only too well the importance of supporting people – patients who come to my surgery might present with a medical condition but so often this is exacerbated by other factors; financial concerns, housing issues or poor air quality.
“Newly formed Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, which should evolve from Primary Care Networks, are perfectly placed to bring together the right partners to tackle people’s overall health and wellbeing needs.
“I am proud that this review has the commitment from everyone working on the ground – all 42 Integrated Care System leaders who are committed to developing local health systems which meet the unique needs of their different populations – it is now for national organisations to offer them further support around workforce, data and estates”.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Primary care is at the very heart of the NHS and I am hugely grateful to Dr Claire Fuller and all primary care staff who make a difference every day by providing advice and support to patients.
“Her recommendations will improve patients’ access to services, including those with the most complex needs, and help people live well for longer. As part of this the new Health and Care Act sets integrated care systems into law and it’s fantastic to see all 42 NHS Trust chief executives signing up to support primary care.
“Together we need to work with communities to deliver healthcare that works for everyone and we are continuing to work with the NHS to grow the workforce and tackle the COVID backlog”.
The NHS Long Term Plan outlined how Integrated Care Systems would be central to its delivery by bringing together local organisations to redesign care and improve population health, creating shared leadership and action.
Integrated Care Systems, aim to improve the health of all residents, better support people living with multiple and long-term conditions and tackle variation in care.
They will bring together the NHS, local government and other organisations including the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sectors.
LMC Buying Group
Barnsley LMC has been a member of the LMC Buying Groups Federation since 2013. This means that practices can access the discounts the Buying Group has negotiated on a wide range of products and services. If you’re not sure what the Buying Group is all about then this short video explains what they do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FekMwFI5ILg.
By registering with the Buying Group: www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk/members/, you can view all the suppliers’ pricing, contact details and request quotes. The Buying Group also offers any member practice a free cost analysis which demonstrates how much money your practice could save just by swapping to buying group suppliers. Tel: 0115 979 6910 Email: info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk Website: www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk