New requirements for hospitals re work with general practice
Londonwide LMCs’ CEO Dr Michelle Drage has written to Trust and Foundation Trust CEOs across London asking how they plan to implement the new requirements outlined in the 2016/17 NHS Standard Contract, with particular regard to consideration of GP feedback and we will update you on their replies.
We have also produced a template letter to use if hospitals do not observe the new requirements in the way that they work with GPs and their practice teams. You can download it from our GPSOE site here.
The six new requirements were highlighted to CCG Accountable Officers, and Chief Executives of NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts in a letter dated 28 July sent from Matthew Swindells, National Director: Operations and Information at NHS England, and Robert Alexander, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Improvement.
The letter says that time taken setting up and rearranging hospital appointments, as well as chasing up delays in discharge letters and details of changes in medication, accounts for 13.5 million, or 4.5% of GP appointments annually.
The new requirements, which aim to reduce these pressures on GPs, include:
- Local access policies - covering discharge back to GPs for out-patient DNAs.
- Discharge summaries - to be sent by direct electronic or email for inpatient, day case or A&E care within 24 hours.
- Clinic letters - clear and prompt communication with GPs following outpatient clinic attendance.
- Onward referral of patients - onward referral to and treatment by another professional within the same provider is permitted, and there is no need to refer back to the GP. Re-referral for GP approval is only required for onward referral of non-urgent, unrelated conditions.
- Medication on discharge - Providers to supply patients with medication following discharge from inpatient or day case care.
- Results and treatments - hospitals to notify patients of the results of clinical investigations and treatments in an appropriate and cost-effective manner, for example, telephoning the patient.
Responsible Oxygen Prescribing (04 Sep 2015)
The London Respiratory Network have asked us to re-circulate a copy of the London Clinical Oxygen Network (LCON) key messages for Responsible Oxygen use in adults...Patient Complaints - The DOs and DON'Ts - two half day workshops, Thursday 7 October 2015 (03 Sep 2015)
Is your practice as productive as it could be? Business health check event, 24 September 2015 - book your place now (02 Sep 2015)
...August Newsletter (13 Aug 2015)
Londonwide LMCs NewsletterMaking health and social care information accessible (12 Aug 2015)
The new Accessible Information Standards for GP Practices has been launched by NHS England and comes into force on 31 July 2016. Practices must ensure that all information...Men ACWY – Sign up guidance and Action Card for GPs from NHS England (12 Aug 2015)
Following enquiries received from practices regarding the Men ACWY programme, NHS England has issued brief guidance about the sign up process for this...GMS global sum calculation and data request for atypical population profiles (12 Aug 2015)
The BMA have produced a document that details how the global sum allocation (Carr-Hill formula) determines funding for GMS practices. This has been published in response to...PHP Reflective Practice Master Classes beginning 12 September 2015 (12 Aug 2015)
Each Master Class helps individuals to identify both the organisational and psychological barriers to change and personal development. Participants will have the choice of attending one of the following...Friends and Family Test:Â Disappointing news for London practices (12 Aug 2015)
Although it is a contractual requirement for practices to carry out the Friends and Family Test (F&FT) and submit data each month, the May return for London was a disappointing...New pan-London Cervical Sample Taker Database (CTSD) (12 Aug 2015)
NHS England has commissioned a web-based Cervical Sample Taker Database (CSTD) for the quality assurance of sample taking in London. The database enables the allocation of unique sample taker codes...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.