London latent TB testing and treatment programme update
Implementation of the national LTBI (latent TB infection) testing and treatment programme is now underway across London except in Bexley, Bromley and Sutton.
NHS England have provided us with an update for practices which covers a number of areas relating to the LTBI programme including:
- The role of CCGs;
- Data collection;
- Information governance;
- Timescales and funding.
Some CCGs have expressed concerns about the extraction of sensitive patient identifiable data (PID) by Public Health England (PHE) from GP records for the purpose of this screening programme.
Public Health England confirm that they have Regulation 3, Section 251 (NHS Act 2006) approval to extract such information from GP systems without patient consent. Although not strictly required, following the successful model of a pilot in Newham, GP colleagues will be asked to sign a simple data sharing agreement proforma with ‘CEG’ the organisation which will extract the PID from the medical record. CEG will then pass the data on to PHE. In some areas the CSU may perform this role instead of ‘CEG’.
Despite the section 251 approval , Londonwide LMCs understands that patients will be allowed to dissent from sharing their PID if they wish but should first be fully reassured and advised that their data will be held securely by PHE for the purposes of the programme only, as per the information leaflet. Patients may change their mind and consent at any time.
Those patients identified by GPs as being at high risk of latent TB infection will be offered an IGRA test and managed along a LTBI care pathway, depending on their results. Existing local arrangements are expected by PHE to continue for the urgent referral of patients with signs and symptoms of open TB. Local CCGs will be developing specifications for the GP aspect of the care pathway, aiming not to duplicate investigations carried out by secondary care services where possible.
Templates for EMIS and SystmOne have been designed to record demographic and clinical information on GP IT systems for extraction by CEG. An interim method of recording is available for other IT systems – the Vision template should be available soon. The templates contain 48 ‘variables’ (pieces of information) covering both the primary and secondary care aspects of the care pathway, many of which will be automatically populated by the GP IT system.
GP colleagues will only be expected to complete those variables relating to the primary care part of the Care Pathway. PHE will collate the electronically recorded variables from both the primary and secondary care parts of the pathway.
PHE expects that many of the investigation variables will continue to be done in secondary care as a routine prior to initiating treatment. Colleagues may still wish to use the opportunity where appropriate to offer some additional tests themselves (such as screening for Hepatitis and HIV) especially if the patient comes from a country where blood borne infection is a high risk or his/her lifestyle suggests that it would be prudent.
Further information will be shared via email and the LMC website when available.
Last updated : 16 Mar 2016Londonwide LMCs conference 2019 round-up (19 Mar 2019)
On 12 March 2019 we hosted our annual conference – titled “All Together Now” - at the Kia Oval. The day was a great success with an array of guest...New ICO advice on handling Subject Access Requests (19 Mar 2019)
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have recently released a blog containing further advice for GPs and practices on the right of access for patients, commonly called Subject Access Requests (SARs)....Londonwide LMCs’ board changes (15 Mar 2019)
Following elections we would like to welcome Dr Anouska Hari (NW) and Dr Naureen Bhatti (NC/NE) to the board. Dr Marek Jarzembowski (South), Dr Robbie Bunt (NC/NE), Dr Simon Parton...New BMA locum template terms and conditions (13 Mar 2019)
The BMA GPC and sessional subcommittee have jointly produced model terms of engagement for locum GPs, which they recommend both practices and locums should proactively adopt. It should be noted that...Safeguarding Children and Adults L2 - Wednesday 22 May 2019 - places still available (27 Feb 2019)
...Londonwide LMCs' February 2019 Newsletter (20 Feb 2019)
...Tips of the month February 2019 (19 Feb 2019)
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...QOF business rules coding issues – update for practice teams (19 Feb 2019)
Please note that no action is currently needed by practices on this matter, but you should read the information carefully. Following the introduction of the SNOMED-CT coding in 2018/19, NHS...Type 2 opt-outs replaced by the national data opt-out (19 Feb 2019)
Type 2 opt-outs have been replaced by the national data opt-out so practices must no longer use the type 2 opt-out code to record a patient's opt-out choice as it...The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) – further guidance now available (19 Feb 2019)
The The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) replaced the Information Governance toolkit from April 2018. The DSPT is an online self-assessment toolkit that has to be used by all...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.