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The Hidden Workload Study

The Hidden Workload Study aims to better understand the daily workload of clinicians who work in general practice, and specifically to explore the large amount of work that clinicians do other than seeing patients in planned consultations. This is referred to this as the “hidden” workload. 
The ask is to record all the work you do on a single workday using a simple form.
 
You can also choose to take part in interviews with to talk more about your workload and the work involved in looking after your local community.     
Four reasons to join The Hidden Workload Study 
 
  1. You will learn more about how you, and your practice, manage and allocate your workload. 
  2. You will become a co-author on any resulting publications and presentations.  
  3. You will receive a bespoke PACT practice report, which includes benchmarked national workload study data. This can be used for quality improvement projects and practice service development.    
  4. You can optionally become a PACT Champion in your practice, taking on a local research leadership role for this study in a supported way.  
To join The Hidden Workload Study, or to find out more, please go to www.gppact.org/the-hidden-workload-study.  

GPCE view on request for Cloud Based Telephony data

As part of the 2024/25 contract imposed on the profession in April, NHS England (NHSE) have sought directions from the Secretary of State to extract data from GP clinical systems on Cloud Based Telephony (CBT) usage. An email has been sent by NHSE outlining the instructions to comply with this data extraction under section 259 (1) (a) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, stating:

‘All general practices are therefore mandated to comply with this invitation and approve the collection.’

The legal basis for the collection is explained in the Data Provision Notice, which will enable your call data to be extracted on a monthly basis.

The BMA has taken its own legal advice:

Practices cannot decline the instructions, as doing so will risk breaching their contract.

The PCN DES includes three components of the Capacity and Access Improvement Payment (CAIP). This data extraction is the component pertaining to the existing use of CBT and the relevant metrics.

GPCE advice is that should a practice fail to sign up ahead of the October 1st deadline, there may be a risk of a breach notice being imposed as well as contravening the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

GP pension campaign in England

At the end of July, the BMA’s pensions committee launched a campaign to assist GPs in England to get their pension records up to date Guidance for GPs in England on getting your pension record up to date (bma.org.uk) . There is a step-by-step guide for members to follow, with pre-populated email templates to assist. It is important to ensure that your record is as accurate as possible so you can make appropriate decisions about your pension and the McCloud remedy.

If you have received your 05 and AA statement from NHS Pensions, and your record is not updated to 2022-23, you can check what years are missing from your record by logging into your PCSE Pensions Online account PCSS: Login (england.nhs.uk). As the Pensions Online system is updated in sequential order, you will be able to see which type 1 or type 2 form is holding up your record from being up to date. You can then submit the required forms via your online account or through the online form GP Pensions enquiries | PCSE (england.nhs.uk) .

If you have submitted all required forms and your record is still not up to date, you should raise a complaint with PCSE Guidance for GPs in England on getting your pension record up to date (bma.org.uk). If it not fully resolved within 40 days – follow the escalation process.

Rollout of the medical examiner system in England

In England, the statutory implementation of the medical examiner system will take place on 9th September 2024. This will mean that independent scrutiny by a medical examiner will become a statutory requirement prior to the registration of all non-coronial deaths from this date.

Information from the Department of Health and Social Care is here Causes of death to be scrutinised in revamp of death certificates – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Clade I mpox virus infection Guidance

Urgent public health message to all NHS service providers regarding Clade I mpox virus (MPXV) infection.

Actions for the NHS

  1. Providers to ensure that relevant clinical services – including primary care, urgent care, sexual health services, paediatrics, obstetrics and emergency departments – are aware of the information in this public health message and that a differential diagnosis of Clade I mpox virus (MPXV) infection is considered in any patient who meets the operational case definition below.
  1. Providers to ensure that they have adequate stocks of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and relevant staff are trained in its use for the assessment and treatment of patients presenting with suspected Clade I MPXV infection.
  1. Providers to ensure there is a clinical pathway for isolation and management of suspected Clade I MPXV cases within their setting. This should include isolation of the patient, liaison with local infection prevention and control (IPC) teams, and arrangements for discussion of the case with local infectious disease, microbiology or virology consultants if a diagnosis of Clade I MPXV is being considered so that appropriate clinical management, including testing and infection control measures, can be implemented.
  1. All samples from all individuals testing positive for mpox must be sent to the UKHSA Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) for clade differentiating tests Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL): user manual – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  1. Providers to note the information below for the clinical assessment and testing of patients with potential Clade I MPXV infection. Clinical assessment and operational mpox HCID case definition

 

The following patients should be managed as HCID (high consequence infectious disease) cases (pending confirmation of clade type where appropriate):

  • confirmed mpox where Clade I MPXV has been confirmed 
  • confirmed or clinically suspected mpox, clade not yet known and:
  • there is a travel history to the DRC or specified countries where there may be a risk of Clade I exposure, within 21 days of symptom onset Clade I mpox virus infection – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  • or a link to a suspected case from those countries (listed below), within 21 days of symptom onset
  • or there is an epidemiological link to a case of Clade I mpox within 21 days of symptom onset

The countries where Clade I cases have been reported, as well as countries bordering those with ongoing Clade I transmission are currently:

  • DRC
  • Republic of Congo
  • Central African Republic
  • Burundi
  • Rwanda
  • Uganda
  • Kenya
  • Cameroon
  • Gabon
  • Angola
  • South Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia

 

Signs and symptoms 

Mpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 1–21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system. 

Common symptoms of mpox are: 

  • rash
  • fever
  • sore throat
  • headache
  • muscle aches
  • back pain
  • low energy
  • swollen lymph nodes.

 Please follow this link to the GOV UK site Clade I mpox virus infection – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccination campaign

A new RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccination campaign aimed at protecting vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women has been launched. As you may be aware, RSV can cause severe respiratory illness, and vaccination is a key step in reducing the risk.

Key Information
One responsibility regarding this campaign is to vaccinate or actively signpost pregnant women to their midwife for vaccination. 
 
Given the possible confusion of who will deliver the vaccine to the patient, possibly resulting in the patient not receiving the vaccine at all, we feel that this is important to clarify who will administer the vaccine.  It is the opinion of Doncaster LMC that the vaccination should be administered by the maternity team, and that we are not required to administer it directly at the practice, unless we decide to do so opportunistically.
What You Need to Do
When seeing pregnant women during consultations, please ensure that you:
  • Highlight the importance of RSV vaccination for protecting both mother and baby.
  • Direct them to their midwife as the point of contact for receiving the vaccine.
  • Reinforce the message that timely vaccination is essential, particularly in the winter months when RSV cases are most prevalent.
Additionally, it may be helpful to proactively send out a batch message to pregnant women via AccuRx to inform them about the vaccination and direct them to their midwife. This will help ensure they are aware of the opportunity and importance of getting vaccinated.
Example AccuRx Message to Pregnant Women:
“Dear [Patient Name],  
You are eligible for the new RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine, which helps protect you and your baby from serious respiratory illness. Please contact your midwife to arrange for the vaccine, as it is administered through maternity services.  
Best regards,  
[Your Practice Name]”
Please also remember to document any discussions related to the RSV vaccine in the patient’s record.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the success of this campaign and helping to protect the health of our patients.

Managing discrimination from patients and their guardians and relatives

The BMA has produced guidance which gives background information and steps that all employers and healthcare workers should take when incidences of discrimination against a healthcare worker occur. 

Further information can be found by following this link:-

Managing discrimination from patients and their guardians and relatives (bma.org.uk)                                                        

 

More locally, support can be found at South Yorkshire Primary Care Race Equality Network for Primary Care staff.  The group meet on a quarterly basis (usually via Teams) and they offer an interesting programme of guest speakers. 

Further information can be found by contacting syicb.syorimarycare@nhs.net

Respect

Respect

LMC Buying Group

Doncaster LMC is been a member of the LMC Buying Groups Federation. This means that practices can access the discounts the Buying Group has negotiated on a wide range of products and services.  If you’re not sure what the Buying Group is all about then this short video explains what they do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FekMwFI5ILg.   

 

By registering with the Buying Group:  www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk/members/, you can view all the suppliers’ pricing, contact details and request quotes. The Buying Group also offers any member practice a free cost analysis which demonstrates how much money your practice could save just by swapping to buying group suppliers.  Tel: 0115 979 6910  Email: info@lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk   Website: www.lmcbuyinggroups.co.uk