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.
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.
Accelerated Access to Records
Members are asked to promote GPCE’s guidance around Accelerated Access to Records which can be found here
Shingles technical guidance
NHS England has published updated technical guidance of the shingles vaccination programme. The guidance sets out information on eligible cohorts, clinical codes required to record shingles vaccination events and how payments will be supported via GPES, following the changes to the programme that came into effect from September this year.
MMR Catch-up campaign
NHSE has now confirmed the vaccination ‘catch-up campaign’ for 2023/24. As with last year this will focus on MMR vaccinations and NHSE have set out a number of actions for practices to support the campaign. As per the SFE, practices will receive an item of service fee for every vaccination.
Same Day Emergency Care Unit Enables Patients to Avoid Hospital Stays
An emergency care unit is enabling more than 70% of patients it sees to be treated and return home on the same day rather than having to be admitted to hospital.
The medical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at the Northern General Hospital enables clinically suitable patients to be assessed, diagnosed, start treatment and return home on the same day. These patients would otherwise have been admitted to hospital or potentially faced a wait in the Emergency Department.
The service means that patients can avoid unplanned or longer than necessary stays in hospital and recover in the comfort of their own home, and reduces the risks of deconditioning and infection that are often associated with prolonged hospital admissions.
It can also help to reduce the pressure on the Emergency Department, minimise ambulance delays and free up bed capacity in hospital. Patients can be referred to SDEC from the Emergency Department or the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit (AMU), or referred directly by their GP, ambulance service or NHS 111.
Typical SDEC patients may have symptoms such as headaches, hypertension and breathlessness, but the unit is able to accept most non-surgical patients.
Maria Nightingale, Advanced Clinical Practitioner and SDEC lead, said: “Having this facility allows patients to be assessed, treated, and discharged on the same day when previously they would have had an overnight admission. It reduces demand on inpatient services and can relieve pressure on the emergency department.
“Patient feedback to date has been very positive because most people prefer to be treated and able to go home. It also means hospital beds are used for the most sick patients.”
Currently medical SDEC typically has 20-30 patients a day, but can accept up to 40. It is open for referrals from 8:30am-6:30pm on weekdays, and 8:30am-4:30pm at weekends.
GPs can speak to the Single Point of Access (SPA) to refer to SDEC. Out of hours, appropriate patients who are able to wait until the next day may be able to be treated at SDEC rather than admitted overnight.
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.