Mword Issue 51 - Dr Michelle Drage's latest update for GPs and practice teams on covid-19

Covid19heading
Mword Heading - Issue 51

30 March 2020


Dear Colleague

In response to the rapidly developing covid-19 situation I would like to:
  1. remind you of the need to practice safely, and
  2. provide a much needed update on death certification following the enactment of measures in last week’s Coronavirus Act.
As ever, this information is as current as possible and may be subject to change. If that should happen, my team and I will update you as soon as possible.

1. Practising Safely

Practising safely protects patients, staff and colleagues and minimises the risk of covid-19 transmission in practices in the absence of widespread covid-19 testing, and with data from Italy and China suggesting that ‘cold’ patients and health care workers are significant vectors for spreading disease.

Practising safely involves:
  • operating a remote screening system;
  • carrying out consultations remotely through video or phone wherever possible;
  • only seeing patients face to face (in the surgery or through home visits) if initial assessment deems it essential;
  • screening people prior to entry;
  • miniminising the time a person spends in practice;
  • minimising the number of people the patient encounters;
  • wearing PPE for all face-to-face consultations and making sure all staff adopt correct donning and doffing techniques.
This advice will be updated as more evidence becomes available from agencies such as PHE and NHSEI, such as the letter emailed out from NHSEI Primary Care Director Dr Nikki Kanani which crossed with my own on Friday evening.

2. Changes to Death Certification

Coroners offices have confirmed that there is no need for the doctor to see the patient after death as long as any doctor saw them in the 28 days before death (including for verification of death). The doctor should write 'N/A' on the Cremation Form 4 where it asks about what examination was made of the body. Ideally they should say who did see the patient when alive.

Any doctor can now complete the MCCD as long as a doctor saw them in the 28 days before death. They do not have to have seen the patient alive and they can also complete Cremation Form 4, with some caveats: Section 8 of the form should be completed as NA; the doctor completing the form should indicate (if possible) which doctor saw the patient in the 28 days prior to death, and; if no doctor saw the deceased within the 28 days before death, the body should be seen after death to avoid referral to the Coroner - this is the only circumstance in which the body needs to be seen after death.

Video/telemedicine counts for 'attending' a patient during life but not after death – please refer to the information at the following link: Advice from the General Register Office.

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.

Keep well. Stay safe.

With best wishes

Dr Michelle Drage MBBS FRCGP
CEO, Londonwide LMCs

 

Last updated : 13 Dec 2021
 

M Word - Issue 24 - November 2015 now available (20 Nov 2015)

20 November 2015 Following my message earlier this week, I want to update you further on events over the...
Read more »

M Word - Issue 23 - November 2015 now available (17 Nov 2015)

17 November 2015 This week will see the arrival of winter with its crisp blue skies and the hope of...
Read more »

M Word - Issue 22 (11 Mar 2015)

I have three resilient and empowering things for you. The first is meant to be reassuring; the second is to urge you to...
Read more »

M Word - Special Edition - GP Resilience - Take Control campaign launched (10 Nov 2014)

Dear Colleagues. 
Read more »

M Word - Issue 19 (02 Oct 2014)

     
Read more »

M word - Issue 17 (13 Dec 2013)

Dear Colleagues, Three things to tell you right now: 1. Yesterday's CQC/media onslaught2. Christmas and New Year Opening3. Valuing...
Read more »

M word - Issue 16 - Securing the Future of General Practice in London (06 Sep 2013)

Dear colleagues, Londonwide LMCs’ General Practice Cares campaign – Securing the Future of General Practice in London I want to bring you up to speed with proactive work we have been doing over...
Read more »

M word - Issue 15 (30 May 2013)

Dear colleague, As we knuckle down after another week of media onslaught, I  have 3 topics to cover:
Read more »

M word - Issue 14 - MMR catch up Programme update - 8 May 2013 (08 May 2013)

Dear Colleague,Measles - MMR Catch up Programme UPDATEThank you for all your questions. Here are a few more answers from our GP and practice support...
Read more »

M word - Issue 13 - MMR catch up Programme update - 30 April 2013 (30 Apr 2013)

  Dear Colleague Measles - MMR Catch up Programme UPDATE - 30 April 2013 It has now been announced that there will be an MMR vaccination catch-up programme in...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page