Chair Update
It was good to see so many practices represented at our virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) during these incredibly busy times. It was also good to take stock of what we have achieved together last year.
The Board and central Federation team is a small one, and it is only through our amazing sessional practice team that we were able to see around 100,000 patients last year. We believe that it is because our staff are drawn predominately from Barnet member practices that we have such a good Family & Friends Test feedback (93%) and incredibly low numbers of complaints (3 last years) and incidents (14) and minimal DNAs (4%). Together we are able to provide high quality and effective care with outstanding outcomes.
A big thank you to all our clinicians, managers, administration and patient representatives.
The AGM was also a time to look forward. We have continued to build on the additional services we provided last year, such as the Advanced Assessment Clinic (AAC), support to Barnet Hospital A&E, a service for Asylum Seekers with COVID at Brent Cross, and Step-Down beds at RNOH, with recovery services such as Apthorp Care Home step down beds and the Rapid Response Team Support Service, a serious mental health pilot, and support to PCNs with the Phlebotomy initiative.
It was also great to welcome new Board members at the AGM as we respond to feedback from the practices to widen the geographic representation on the Board. Last year was a transition year as we responded to the changing needs of practices and patients during the pandemic and recovery, along with changing funding flows .
This year is another year of change as we increasingly work collaboratively with the PCNs, the Training Hub and the LMC to support practices through these times of unprecedented pressure and uncertainty about the future structure of the NHS. We are committed to doing this and continually evolving to respond to the needs of practices, PCNs and our patients.
Have a wonderful summer and stay safe and well!
Anuj
Dr Anuj Patel
Patients
Your PPG Network – let’s explain!
During the height of the pandemic most people understood the severe pressure doctors were under and accepted the changed ways of accessing medical help. Now that the pandemic is abating, patients are expressing their frustration at trying to get appointments. While appreciating the backlog, they do not understand why face-to-face appointments are still restricted when they can go to the dentist and optician.
People complain about ‘being fobbed off’ with other clinical staff when they want to see a doctor, not understanding or having explained to them why the nurse, pharmacist or other is a more appropriate option. They don’t think they are getting the level of care they need. This is largely an issue of communication, so, to avoid anger and distress for patients and staff, how can BPPN and PPGs help practices get on with explaining these changes?
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Hugh Ogus via: barnetpatientgroup@nhs.net or 020 8954 0657
Headlines
New BFG Website!
We are pleased to announce that our new website will be launched next week on Friday 20th August.
EMIS Migration Updates
There have been some ongoing issues, particularly around EPS and T-Quest that have been escalated to EMIS. We have been informed that these will be resolved with an EMIS update, which is due to take place on 17th August. Please see attached for further information
EAS Additional capacity
- Additional appointments provided 1959 in each of June and July. Please see attached for further details.
- Currently only additional capacity for NHS 111 in August
Opportunity for GPs interested in working in the BFG EAS service
BFGs will be onboarding new sessional GPs into the EAS service. If you would like to find out more about the onboarding process as well as sessions and how to book them, please refer to the attached information. If you are interested in joining the Federation, please email: barnet.federation@nhs.net
Supporting the provision of covid vaccines to housebound patients!
BFGs are currently accepting referrals for covid vaccinations for housebound patients and patients resident in Care Homes. To refer, please email barnetfederatedgps.services@nhs.net. Please specify whether this is for a first or second dose. Referrals will be accepted until Thursday 19th August by 4pm as the service will be coming to an end on 27th August.
Dates for your diary
Pan Barnet Event: 8th September 2021 – Fertility with Mr Pratik Shah, Service updates on Hospices with Dr Sarah Shelley and Social Prescribing Link Workers with Caitlin Bays
EAS Task & Finish Group: W/c 27th September 2021 – An invite will be going out to PCN colleagues.
For further practice support, training information and research updates please see below
Support For Our Practices
Practices and professionals seeking job opportunities in Barnet can advertise through our website on our Pan Barnet Noticeboard: https://barnetfederatedgps.org.uk/panbarnetnoticeboard/
Salaried GP
Ongoing recruitment for Salaried GPs to work primarily in EAS and other Federation services. If you are interested and would like to be considered, please refer to the attached Job Description for more details, or email barnet.federation@nhs.net.
EAS Appointments Provision and Service Updates
Appointments Provision and how to access them
Appointments are released at the following times:
- Monday-Friday – 10.00 & 15.00 (on the day of the appointment)
- Saturday-Sunday – released throughout the week (08.00 5 days and 3 days ahead of the appointment)
Alternatively, patients can book directly through the appointment booking line – 020 3948 6809 – which is available Monday-Friday 18.30-20.00 and Saturday-Sunday 08.00-20.00.
When booking into this service, please provide updated contact numbers for the patient. This will ensure that the GP can successfully contact the patient to conduct the telephone or video consultation.
Please see attached the EAS appointments booking updated process for step-by-step guidance or for more information on bookings appointments, please email barnetfederatedgps.services@nhs.net.
EAS Service Updates
Cricklewood now operating as a face-to-face hub to provide appointments to patients in the South of Barnet
EMIS migration
These issues are being or have been resolved and appointments are available to book as per the attached booking process. We are aware that this did cause some disruption to the service and booking of appointments during the weeks commencing 19th July and 26th July, for which we apologise.
EMIS system update:
We were informed on Friday the 6th and Saturday 7th August, a number of extended access providers reported issues regarding the EMIS system being unavailable. This was subsequently escalated to EMIS and NCL. The issue has now been resolved and the system has been operational since Sunday 8th August.
Nurse appointments:
We now have nurse appointments available in EAS – under the slot type “EAS Practice Nurse”.
– Face-to-face appointments at Oak Lodge Medical Centre and Wentworth Medical Practice. Please see attached document for information on what patients can be seen for in these appointments.
Anticoagulation
The service offers specialist advice on all issues related to anticoagulant therapies and provides on-going monitoring for patients on anticoagulants. Please visit out website for your nearest clinic as well as the operating days: https://barnetfederatedgps.org.uk/anticoagulation/
Training Information and Opportunities
Barnet GP Specialty Training Scheme – Small Group Facilitator
This is an opportunity to facilitate small group case discussion at the Barnet GP Speciality Training Scheme for an hour, followed by a meeting with the Programme Directors for half an hour.
This is a 1-year post and the expectation is to work during the term time (equates to approx. 37 weeks of the year) for an hour and a half. In addition, there will also be an opportunity to attend planning/developmental meetings (approx. 9 per year) which may be during Thursday afternoons or after 5pm (times to be mutually agreed). Please see the job advert attached for more information. The closing date for the application is 13th August 2021.
For more information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact Mike Wyndham mike.wyndham@nhs.net or Anisha Sodha anishasodha@nhs.net, Programme Directors for Barnet GP Speciality Training Scheme.
Educational sessions for the Barnet Primary Care Pharmacists, Technicians and trainees
Barnet Training Hub have recruited 6 GP fellows and 2 pharmacy fellows to support our Primary Care Pharmacy team with education and training.
GP fellows will be delivering regular educational sessions for all pharmacists and technicians. The focus will be to help pharmacist carry out effective SMR’s. The sessions will start in September with meetings planned alternative Tuesday lunchtime (1-2pm). So please do pencil in Tuesday lunchtime meetings from September. please encourage your pharmacy team to attend these sessions.
An LNA survey will be sent to GPs. We will get back to you with confirmed dates and the agenda of the learning programme, but LTC will be covered along with topics such as communication and consultation skills. These sessions will be interactive with case-based discussions.
For more information please contact: Feemeda Padhani femeeda.padhani@nhs.net or Anuja Shah anuja.shah@nhs.net
St George’s, University of London – MPAS Physician Associate Studies
The Physician Associate team at St George’s, University of London, are seeking General Practice placements for their 2021-2023 cohort of students.
Placement Expectations:
- Named supervisor and physical capacity required to take students
- Opportunities to see and examine patients
- Review of patients seen by students
- Challenge students on review/examination
- Opportunities to complete DOPS
- Appropriate sign off for Placement (pass/fail) competency, attendance and DOPS
- Remuneration: £2500 per student (year 1), £4016 per student (year 2) – this tariff is subject to change by HEE
- Covered under practice/supervisor indemnity
If you are interested, please read the recruitment information attached.
GPN Trainee Programme 2022
To support recruitment of the next generation of general practice nurses, Health Education England is funding a general practice nurse training programme as well as providing a significant amount of funding towards the cost of the nurse salary whilst they complete their training. The funding available is half the equivalent salary of a mid-point band 5 nurse based on agenda for change (approx. £27k plus on costs). The practice therefore only needs to contribute the remainder of the nurse salary.
The table below shows the total funding available:
Please get in touch with: amitashah@nhs.net to discuss the programme and funding in more depth.
Medics on the Move with Mr Motivator
Following the roll out of the Move More with Mr Motivator fitness sessions in Haringey, an invitation has been extended to practice staff across NCL. Mr Motivator now invites all GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists and administrative staff to join him for Medics On The Move, a programme of monthly 12-minute live sessions to get GP practices moving and having fun!
When? The first session is on Monday 23rd August, 1pm
Where? Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84366029391?pwd=dHBJNThIV0o3UmdEN2xzOTZ3WElHdz09
Meeting ID: 843 6602 9391
Passcode: MOTMWMM123
Research
Noclor and Barnet Research Network
Call for Expressions of Interest for General Practice Research Nurse Fellow!
Noclor and Barnet Research Network are looking for an enthusiastic nurse who is keen to develop their research skills and engage with other nurses and associated staff working in practices across Barnet as part as the Research Network clinical team. Training and support provided.
1-2 sessions per week funded by Noclor. Please see details attached embedded within the additional documents.
For further information, please either contact Joanna Yong GP Barnet Research Cluster Clinical Lead via: barccg.barnetresearchnetwork@nhs.net or
Lynis Lewis Noclor Service Lead: lynislewis@nhs.net