Covid-19 vaccination programme guidance round-up, March 2021
Since our last newsletter there have been a number of new or updated pieces of guidance that are applicable to the GP run parts of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. The most significant updates are collected here:
- On 19 March NHS England wrote to GPs to say that the General Practice Covid Capacity Expansion Fund would be extended until 30 September, having previously been due to finish at the end of March.
- On 17 March NHS England wrote to all bodies involved in the vaccination programme to say there was expected to be less stock available during a period commencing on 29 March.
- On 14 March the MHRA published a statement saying that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe to use, despite other European governments pausing its use in response to concerns raised over blood clots. This statement has had several updates since its initial publication.
- On 12 March NHS England published documents outlining the role of PCN led local vaccination sites in the second phase of the campaign, which involves vaccinating people aged 18–49. The main point being that if a PCN wished to leave the vaccination programme at this point it needed to inform NHS England by last Friday (19 March) of its intention to opt-out.
- On 8 March NHS England amended the vaccination programme’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to instruct practices to identify carers and invite them for vaccinations as part of cohort 6. This is the most recent revision of the SOP, the document itself can be found here.
- On 3 March NHS England wrote to practices outlining their expectations for PCN Covid vaccination sites between 8 March to 29 March.
- On 10 February the Court of Protection heard a case brought by the daughter of a woman who lives in a care home and lacks capacity, where the daughter did not wish her mother to receive the Covid-19 vaccination. The court concluded that the risk to the patient’s life and health, if she were not to have the vaccination, would be unacceptably high and that it was in her best interests to receive it. The full judgement can be read here.
- The DHSC has been providing regular information on which areas ‘surge testing’ is available as part of their work to track and isolate new Covid variants within the community. So far in the area’s covered by Londonwide LMCs, parts of the following boroughs have had surge testing offered to residents: Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Lambeth, Merton, Redbridge, Haringey, Harrow, Southwark and Wandsworth.
BMA Ballot (19 Sep 2017)
GP leaders are to use a BMA survey, revealing more than half of practices are willing to close lists to new patients due to workload pressure, to push the Government to...Cyber Essentials (19 Sep 2017)
Cyber Essentials is a government and industry supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber-attacks. The award of a Cyber Essentials certificate to Londonwide LMCs should assure you...Website review survey (19 Sep 2017)
We know how important a good website is in communicating with our GPs and practice teams. As our current site has been around for some time we would like your...Practice Managers’ Blended Learning Programme (19 Sep 2017)
Londonwide LMCs are delighted to be launching a brand new blended learning programme for general practice managers at the Practice Manager Conference taking place this November. The innovative course, which...Extended access data collection now open (19 Sep 2017)
As NHS England will have informed you recently, the third bi-annual extended access collection is now open for submission until the end of Friday 29 September 2017. As set out...MDO reimbursement (indemnity) (19 Sep 2017)
Londonwide LMCs Guidance for Sessional GPs and Indemnity Reimbursements from NHS England As part of the...Electronic Referral System: help or hindrance? (19 Sep 2017)
First, we had choose and book, now this has morphed into electronic referral system (eRS). This is a system that is being pushed by NHSE as part of the digital...Updated statement for practices using TPP SystmOne (19 Sep 2017)
Following detailed discussions between the ICO, TPP, NHS Digital and NHS England, TPP has now identified some changes which are intended to address the ICO’s concerns about the fair and...Primary care working at scale Master Classes in September (24 Aug 2017)
There are a series of Master Classes throughout September which will support GP providers in their journey and development as Working at Scale organisations. The events have been organised...Londonwide LMCs' August 2017 newsletter (23 Aug 2017)
...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.
follow us on...
