Category: Miscellaneous

August 2023 – Important updates
Triage and Prescribing of COVID treatments will change on 21st August 2023.
Local Care Direct is commissioned to offer a community triage and prescribing service for high-risk adult patients in South Yorkshire
Patients aged over 16 under adult services will contact their GP practice in-hours, or else NHS111 out of hours, to request a referral to the community triage and prescribing service. The contacted service (GP or 111) should refer the patient.
Eligible patients who are unsuitable for oral treatment will be referred to their local Acute Trust by Local Care Direct.
A record of clinical intervention will be sent to the patient’s registered GP once the triage and treatment process has been completed.
Patients 16 or under with a paediatrician (including under 18’s still under paediatric care) will be treated by Sheffield Children’s Hospital via their paediatric specialist. They should not be referred to LCD but asked to contact their peadiatrician.

There has been understandable concern and confusion regarding the commencement of this season’s influenza vaccinations. The British Medical Association (BMA) has provided guidance as follows:

Providing healthcare free at the point of delivery means that individuals receive necessary medical services without having to pay out-of-pocket fees at the time of treatment.

Doncaster is renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage. However, beneath its vibrant exterior lies a pressing public health challenge: health inequalities. Like many regions, Doncaster grapples with disparities in health outcomes and access to healthcare services, creating a complex landscape of health disparities. 

The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom faces a significant challenge in managing its resources efficiently while providing high-quality healthcare services to the population. With rising costs and increasing demand for healthcare, it becomes imperative to explore innovative strategies to reduce waste and maximize resource utilisation. In recent years, the application of behavioural economics principles, specifically financial nudges, has emerged as a promising approach to influencing patient behaviour and healthcare provider practices.

General Practice is in crisis.

With approximately 8% of the NHS budget and 90% of the daily patient contacts, General Practice is one of the most cost effective specialities in the NHS and acts as a gateway to more expensive and scarce resources.  However, the model of GP delivered care from cradle to grave is itself gravely ill.

Physician associates (PAs) play a crucial role in the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, particularly in general practice settings.