Future Updates
Sexual Health Update – May – Dates TBC
Training Opportunities
Primary Care at Scale
1) Diabetes Insulin Initiation Course: – For Practice Nurses
There is an opportunity to train up 3 Practice Nurses to be able to initiate Insulin. – Ideally, one nurse per Locality.
There are a few Practice Nurses who can already do this, but there is a need for more to be trained up. This is due to the waiting times that nurses have to allow for their Community Colleagues to be able to attend a Diabetic clinic in their practice and also due to low numbers of Diabetic Specialist Nurses in Wandsworth.
This would be a 6 month course, partly face-to-face/e-learning, fully funded by Wandsworth CEPN.
This is a course for nurses who have already completed a Diabetes Diploma/previous training – a great opportunity for them to further their career in their specialist area.
The outcome would be that once completed, they can work closely with the Community Diabetic Nurses but also be able to look after their own patients and possibly be able to reach out to help neighbouring practices with their diabetic workload. However, for the time being, we are looking at being able to upskill our current workforce.
2)Tissue Viability Training:
There is an opportunity to train up 3 Practices nurses to become Tissue Viability Nurses. Ideally, one nurse per Locality.
(Details of the length of training and courses TBC)
This is due to the continuing wait/availability of our current Tissue Viability Nurse to be able to attend our complex patients.
We will continue to be guided by our colleagues in the Community but this upskilling would help ease the workload that they already face in the community.
All enquires about both opportunities, please contact Ali Epton: a.epton@nhs.net
Cytology Screening Pilot Project Update – Wandsworth Practices
RM Partners/Cytology Screening Pilot Project – newly released funds.
The GP Federation (BHCIC) have recently acquired further funding to allow more practices to participate in this Pilot.
This Pilot looks to address the needs of patients who have difficulty accessing their practice for their Cervical screen during normal working hours.
The Pilot is about offering appointments to patients Out of Hours. To date, we have 10 practices signed up to deliver this Pilot.
If your practice is interested, or you would like further information, please contact Ali Epton : a.epton@nhs.net
Chaperone Trainer Opportunity:- Practice Nurses and HCA’s.
This month there are a few practices participating in Chaperone Training for their non-clinical staff. This is being delivered by HCA’s and a PN from Sutton.
I have a presentation together with a questionnaire, which a PN/HCA can use to deliver this to their non-clinical staff and other Wandsworth practices going forward.
Are you interested in this opportunity?
You would be renumerated by the Practice requesting the training..
All enquires, please contact Ali Epton : a.epton@nhs.net
Updates
The toolkit aims to benchmark this level of practice and its application to specific roles across clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research.
The toolkit provides general information about the ACP role as well as specific information aimed at the following groups of people: practitioners, educators, employers, commissioners, those planning the workforce across systems and patients/service users.
This toolkit will be updated and supplemented with further information as it gets developed. You can give feedback on this toolkit for future developments.
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/advanced-clinical-practice-toolkit/
For Patients
Tools and resources to help yourself and others to feel better: https://www.good-thinking.uk/
Contains information for those seeking help with stress, anxiety, poor sleep, or feeling sad or low. It also contains information apps available for free to Londoners.
PHE Immunisation Webinars
This is a FREE training resource for immunisers working in primary care in London. Click the link below to see all upcoming webinars.
https://bhcic.co.uk/events/categories/primary-care-immunisation-update-webinar-series/
Diabetes Teaching Session Presentations
Insulin refresher slides 2017_final_full version.pptx
Prescribing in Diabetes_May 2018.pptx
Changes to gluten-free prescriptions
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has placed restrictions on the prescribing of GF food. Several products, except bread and mixes, will no longer be available. This guidance comes into effect on Tuesday 4th December 2018 and the December 2018 Drug Tariff has been amended to reflect this change. Consequently, community pharmacies cannot dispense an NHS prescription for GF products (other than bread and mixes) on or after 4th December 2018.
Recommendations for practices:
- Inform patients currently receiving GF foods (other than bread and mixes) that from 4/12/18 these foods will no longer be available on prescription. A list of allowed products can be downloaded here: GF products available from 04-12-2018.
- an EMIS search tool has been included in this email to identify which patients fall under this category
- a template text message has been created for practices to send to relevant patients to inform them of this change. Download this here should you wish to use it: GF text message template
- Encourage patients to follow a strict gluten free diet.
- Continue to provide annual reviews and monitoring in line with NICE’s recommendations.
- Advise patients to take supplements such as calcium or vitamin D if their dietary intake is insufficient alongside other over-the-counter vitamin or mineral supplements.
- Remind patients of the wide range of GF foods available to buy and of non-gluten containing carbohydrates such as potatoes and rice as alternatives
Please do not hesitate to contact your practice support pharmacist for more information.
Sepsis: Guidance for GPs
Click here to download Sepsis: Guidance for GPS (.pdf)
“THINK SEPSIS” is a Heath Education England programme aimed at improving the diagnosis and management of those with sepsis.
We are developing a ‘train the trainer’ franchise package on sepsis with the RCGP and electronic copies of the slide set and lecturer notes will be hosted on the RCGP sepsis toolkit and referenced from our eLfH sepsis webpage. The learning materials that are available on this website support the early identification and management of sepsis. This website has a film and a wide range of learning materials for primary care, secondary care and paediatrics.
For more information on HEE’s work on sepsis please visit our website.
If you have any questions please contact Mohamed Sadakat at: Mohamed.sadak@hee.nhs.uk
Website: https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/sepsis-awareness
HIV Education update by Helen Webb, HIV Specialist Nurse – The Courtyard Clinic, St. George’s Hospital
Click here to down the presentation slides from the forum.
Education Scholarship Funding Opportunity
The professional development team at Health Education England are offering multi-professional educators the opportunity to apply for a multi-professional education scholarship.
This scholarship is a grant to support NHS healthcare professionals with formal education responsibilities (within the London and South East), who want to undertake a postgraduate programme that develops their skills as medical and clinical educators.
A maximum of £1,750 is available per applicant. The Scholarship must only be used to pay for student course fees for a postgraduate certificate, diploma or masters level programme in education at a Higher Education Institution. The Scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis only.
Deadline for all applications is Monday 4th February 2019. Please follow the link https://faculty.londondeanery.ac.uk/global-news/new-multi-professional-education-scholarship and respond directly to facultydevelopment.lase@hee.nhs.uk for the criteria and an application form.
Prescribing Newsletter – October 2018
This issue includes:
– Update on Influenza Vaccine in London
– Update on limited availability of EpiPen® and EpiPen® Junior (adrenaline auto-injector devices)
– 20181009 – EpiPen Advice – NHSI Final
– EpiPen and EpiPen Junior Schools Guidance1
– Freestyle Libre® – Initiation and continuation forms for prescribing in Primary Care
– Safer Benzodiazepine prescribing and withdrawal
– Fluphenazine decanoate discontinuation
Update on Influenza Vaccine in London
NHSE has issued a letter on maximising use of aTIV influenza vaccine in London during winter 2018/19:
GP practices and community pharmacy providers should offer the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV) for all 65s and over. Based on available evidence, the aTIV vaccine is more effective and highly cost effective in this age group compared with the non-adjuvanted (TIV) vaccines. Quadrivalent vaccine (QIV) is advised to be the best option for the 18-65s at risk group.
A large number of GP practices in London do not have enough aTIV for their over 65s practice populations.
NHSE (London) public health commissioning team advise the following steps to be taken to ensure that the over 65s population are adequately protected this winter:
- If your practice has not ordered aTIV for your over 65s population, the patients can be referred to community pharmacies where aTIV is available.
- If the community pharmacy does not have aTIV, the over 65 year old patient should be informed and can be offered QIV.
- If your practice has low stock of aTIV, the over 75s should be prioritised and those over 65s at clinical risk before offering to the rest of your over 65s cohort.
Community pharmacies vaccinating patients with Influenza vaccine must notify the patient’s GP Practice using the form as outlined in the Service specification: Community pharmacy seasonal influenza vaccination advanced service.
IMMUNISATIONS UPDATE
To be cascaded out to all staff involved in immunisation
NHS England London Region has published an Addendum to the IM Influenza PGD v06.00 on its website. This can be accessed at http://www.england.nhs.uk/london/immunis-team/
The Addendum is:
• NHSE PHE IM Influenza PGD v06.00 Addendum
Practices should ensure that any registered healthcare professional who is due to administer vaccinations under this PGD should be made aware of this Addendum.
False Widow Bite Information
Click below to download the advice for schools from PHE, which may be useful if doctors and nurses are asked about these bites.
False widow spider advice for schools
Sexual Health Services Location Changes – Please Note
The new location for the sexual health service is 160 Falcon Road, London SW11 2LN. It is less than 5 minutes’ walk from the main entrance of Clapham Junction station.
Please note that the service will continue to run from Bedford Hill till 17 November and the Falcon Road site opens on 19 November. The phone number for the Single Point of Access will remain the same i.e. 0333 300 2100 after the move to the new premises.
Compression Hosiery Presentation
Anatomy & Physiology Doppler Assessment & WHY? by Jane Webster, Regional Clinical Advisor
Huntleigh Vascular Range 12PP Brochure
Wound Care / Compression therapy / Chronic Oedema and lymphoma / Care Home and HCA training
https://lohmann-rauscher.co.uk/education/elearning – eLearning accredited by the RCN
Sexual Health Updates
https://wandsworthproviders.wordpress.com/ – this is a link to Free webinar updates and training dates hosted by Sexwise and the FPA.
Poster from the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review
The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review (IMMDS) is investigating 3 medical interventions where patients have reported problems and suffered serious harm. These are pelvic mesh implants, Primodos and hormonal pregnancy tests, and sodium valproate (Epilim or Depakote). Full details can be found on their website.
The Review wants to make sure any individual or family affected by these three interventions is aware of its work and can make contact or provide evidence.
They are therefore asking Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to distribute a poster to GP practices and community pharmacies so that it can be displayed prominently for members of the public to see, and if possible to feature it on the CCG website. The poster is available in two forms: print-sized version or e-version.
Asthma Event (13th Sept) Resources
- Link to the asthma toolkit
- Link to the primary and community care toolkit
- Asthma Event Resources (.zip) containing:
> 48 hour review leaflet
> AAA event Presentation
> Annual Report 1718 Case Studies 1-6
> Healthy London Sept 18 updated
> pPAAP
> SWL asthma event 13 Sept CK GH slides
Flu Information 2018/19
Update on Influenza Vaccine in London
NHSE has issued a letter on maximising use of aTIV influenza vaccine in London during winter 2018/19:
GP practices and community pharmacy providers should offer the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV) for all 65s and over. Based on available evidence, the aTIV vaccine is more effective and highly cost effective in this age group compared with the non-adjuvanted (TIV) vaccines. Quadrivalent vaccine (QIV) is advised to be the best option for the 18-65s at risk group.
A large number of GP practices in London do not have enough aTIV for their over 65s practice populations.
NHSE (London) public health commissioning team advise the following steps to be taken to ensure that the over 65s population are adequately protected this winter:
- If your practice has not ordered aTIV for your over 65s population, the patients can be referred to community pharmacies where aTIV is available.
- If the community pharmacy does not have aTIV, the over 65 year old patient should be informed and can be offered QIV.
- If your practice has low stock of aTIV, the over 75s should be prioritised and those over 65s at clinical risk before offering to the rest of your over 65s cohort.
Community pharmacies vaccinating patients with Influenza vaccine must notify the patient’s GP Practice using the form as outlined in the Service specification: Community pharmacy seasonal influenza vaccination advanced service.
Immunisations Update for all staff involved in immunisation
NHS England London Region has published an Addendum to the IM Influenza PGD v06.00 on its website. This can be accessed at http://www.england.nhs.uk/london/immunis-team/
The Addendum is:
• NHSE PHE IM Influenza PGD v06.00 Addendum
Practices should ensure that any registered healthcare professional who is due to administer vaccinations under this PGD should be made aware of this Addendum.
Sanofi Pasteur flu update slides – useful for nurses who did not manage to access a flu update this year.
Childhood Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme Resources for Registered Practitioners
Flu Season Information:
Clinical Risk Groups – Influenza immunisation – information 2018
Flu vaccines and Suppliers 2018 – Contact sheet
Free Flu training (you just need to register to access the link):
http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/flu-immunisation/how-to-access/
NHS England London Region has published two new and four updated Patient Group Directions (PGDs) on its website. This can be accessed at:
http://www.england.nhs.uk/london/immunis-team/
Patient Group Directions (PGDs) for Vaccines
NHS England London Region has published three updated Patient Group Directions(PGDs) on its website. This can be accessed at http://www.england.nhs.uk/london/immunis-team/
The new PGDs are:
NHSE PHE IM Influenza PGD v06.00 (.pdf)
NHSE PHE LAIV PGD v07.00 (.pdf)
NHSE PHE PPV PGD v02.00 (.pdf)
NHSE PHE Hib Men C PGD v03.00 (.pdf) – This PGD updates a previous version and details of the amendments are on page two of the document.
Practices should ensure that any registered healthcare professional who is due to administer vaccinations under these PGDs should sign this and be properly authorised.
Green Book (Department of Health)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/influenza-the-green-book-chapter-19
The national influenza immunisation programme letter and plan 2018/19:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flu-immunisation-programme-plan
Return to Practice
Information on Return to Practice is available on the Come Back to Nursing website and for AHP’s and healthcare scientists on the HEE website.
HEI’s in London delivering nursing Return to Practice courses are:
Kingston University, London
Buckinghamshire New University
City University, London
London University of Greenwich
University of Hertfordshire
University of West London (for GP RtP)
Useful Links
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/membership/practice-teams-nurses-and-managers/~/media/Files/Membership/GPF/RCGP-GPF-Nurse-Competencies.ashx
RCN Guidance for Mentors of Nursing and Midwifery Students (pdf)
Click here to download
Nurse Prescribers
If you are a prescriber and need a BNF you can order it via the www.pharpress.com/bnf69 or order via charlotte.mason@rpharms.com
Useful link for ear care protocols:
http://earcarecentre.com/professionals/protocols/
Free online COPD training:
Free online learning to Respiratory Clinicians for the GOLD 2017 guidelines. There are 10 modules available that you can claim credit and a certificate for on completion. You can sign in for free if you are a Respiratory Clinician (Sign up as RN).
http://education.goldcopd.org
Hep B:
Hepatitis B resources can be found by going the Public Health England section of the gov.uk site and then going to Health Protection A-Z/ Infectious Diseases/ Hepatitis B.
Direct link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hepatitis-b-guidance-data-and-analysis
Direct link to dried blood spot testing for infants: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hepatitis-b-dried-blood-spot-dbs-testing-for-infants
Primary Care Online Cancer Education Tool
This NG12 online educational tool for health care professionals in primary care has been developed to aid primary care in referring patients for suspected cancer including symptom criteria, direct access diagnostics and straight to test, safety netting, patient information and links to external educational resources.
The tool includes quizzes and case studies to aid learning.
http://ng12panlondonapproach.org/login/index.php
or via the Healthy London Partnership Website
https://www.healthylondon.org/our-work/cancer/suspected-cancer-referrals/
Older Updates
Prescribing Newsletter – Sept 2018 (.pdf)
Prescribing Newsletter – July 2018 (.pdf)
Supporting Documents 1 (.zip)
Supporting Documents 2 (.zip)