|
24 March 2020
Dear Colleague
I have further important information and guidance for you in light of the developing situation with coronavirus.
My key message is, as if you didn’t know:
The world of general practice has changed, and for now you should be operating to a covid-19 prioritised workload.
Your entire effort at practice level should be in line with the joint RCGP, BMA and NHSE guidance on workload prioritisation which is on this link:
BMA, RCGP and NHSEI has been shared outlining workload prioritisation during covid-19.
If you (GPs, practice managers and GPNs) have any queries regarding what you should, shouldn't, can or cannot do, please contact our GP support team and we will guide you through, or signpost you to an appropriate resource.
Practice funding security
Your essential services payments will continue to support the essential priorities listed in the above workload guidance. All QOF, DES and LES funding to general practices is now being diverted to the essential priorities listed in it. For further clarity on this, please see this letter from the Chair of the BMA’s GP Committee, Richard Vautrey. It is not an exhaustive list of GP workload and is not intended to replace clinical judgement for individual patient cases.
Essentially:
- QOF is OFF, Covid is ON.
- CQC routine inspections are suspended.
- Appraisal and Revalidation are suspended.
- The PCN DES specifications are postponed.
- NHSEI contracting resources are being diverted to support the Covid-19 effort.
- There’s a war on, Pike.
Please bear in mind that the national, regional and local situation with covid-19 is rapidly and constantly changing. Please stay tuned to our website and keep your eyes open for these MWord messages.
Safety of clinicians to keep patients safe
We are not looking for heroics. This helps nobody. You need to be asking yourselves "what is essential to our patient(s) and how can we deliver it in a way which minimises risk to our practice team?" If commissioners or other bodies don’t get this, involve me and my team as necessary on mword@lmc.org.uk. We continue to share the emerging Barnet CCG flow chart to support practices there to triage almost all covid-19 patients remotely, and to encourage other CCGs to do the same. This first appeared along with the caveats in my MWord 48 yesterday.
REMEMBER: Remote consultation is essential – especially under the Stay At Home Instruction from the Government.
As ever I welcome your feedback at mword@lmc.org.uk, and know that my team of experts and leaders here at Londonwide LMCs will always be by your side.
With best wishes
Dr Michelle Drage MBBS FRCGP
CEO, Londonwide LMCs
|
