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 2015

Department of Health and Social Care rejects merger of Community Health Partnerships and NHS Property Services (19 Feb 2018)

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has rejected the proposed merger between NHS Property Services (NHSPS) and Community Health Partnerships (CHP), which was one of the recommendations of...

Tips on submitting childhood immunisations (0-5) data to Open Exeter (19 Feb 2018)

At our recent finance event for GPs and practice managers NHS England London’s vaccinations and immunisations team gave the following advice to practices when submitting their childhood immunisations (0-5) data...

Tips of the Month February 2018 (16 Feb 2018)

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...

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – further guidance now available (16 Feb 2018)

The Information Governance Alliance (IGA), which includes the Department of Health, NHS England, NHS Digital and Public Health England, is in the process of producing guidance for GDPR ahead of...

Practice resources for children and young people (16 Feb 2018)

Healthy London Partnership (HLP), brings together London CCGs, NHS England and other partners to assist with the delivery of better health and care for all Londoners. HLP has a range...

Contacting the NHS England London premises team (16 Feb 2018)

At our recent finance event for GPs and practice managers, Sian Clapton from NHS England London’s premises team, provided us with contact details for the team. Any issues relating to premises...

MP visit - Chuka Umunna meets with Lambeth LMC (16 Feb 2018)

On Friday 29 January 2018 members of Lambeth LMC met Chuka Umunna MP at the Exchange Surgery in his Streatham constituency. The LMC members covered the challenges around recruitment, retention...

Influenza and the annual vaccine ordering challenge for practices (16 Feb 2018)

Kenny Gibson, Head of Public Health Commissioning (London) and NHS England London’s lead on flu vaccinations shares his tips for anticipating the cycle of winter illnesses and getting the best...

It’s election year at Londonwide LMCs - make your voice heard (16 Feb 2018)

This year every LMC seat is up for election. Any GP working in one of the 27 London boroughs we represent may be nominated for election regardless of their contractual...