Tamiflu in nursing and care homes
In January the GPC sought legal advice on Public Health England’s (PHE) instructions to prescribe Tamiflu for the prophylaxis of influenza in nursing and care homes where there have been confirmed cases of influenza.
This advice was highlighted in a letter to PHE:
GMS regulations are clear that this service is not included under essential services that practices are required to provide for their registered patients. "Essential Services" are defined in the GMS regulations with reference to regulations 15(3) (5) (6) and (8). Additional work must be commissioned and funded separately as an *Enhanced Service". Examples of these are the influenza vaccination programme and catch up MMR vaccination campaign.
Although PHE disagreed with this view, we would like to re-iterate the GPC’s advice to practices that this work is not covered by their contracts and that if requested, practices should advise PHE (or whoever else requests this) that unless this service is properly commissioned, they will not be providing it in the event of a flu outbreak. The Chief Medical Officer has been informed that practices have been advised of this. We would also advise LMCs to contact their CCGs to alert them to this gap in provision and invite them to commission a service.
Last updated : 14 Oct 2015Mword 78: Brace Brace (14 Dec 2020)
Supporting Safe Care in General Practice during Covid-19 - a Londonwide LMCs Living Guide - version 24 updated 16.04.2021 (04 Dec 2020)
Click here to access Londonwide LMCs Living Guide 'Supporting Safe Care in General Practice during Covid-19'.Coronavirus hospital trust information (25 Nov 2020)
The coronavirus pandemic has created many challenges to the healthcare system across England and in London in particular. Coronavirus arrived in the UK in January 2020 and a national lockdown...Send us your picture for our latest social media campaign (25 Nov 2020)
This winter we will be running a social media campaign to highlight that general practice staff are people just like everyone else and patients should consider this before taking out...Send us your picture for our latest social media campaign (25 Nov 2020)
This winter we will be running a social media campaign to highlight that general practice staff are people just like everyone else and patients should consider this before taking out...Tips of the Month November 2020 (25 Nov 2020)
We provide weekly tips based on common queries which come through to us from London GPs and practice teams. These are shared via social media and collated for...Londonwide LMCs' November 2020 Newsletter (25 Nov 2020)
Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.