Chair Update
Dear Members/ Colleagues,
It has been another busy few months at Barnet Federated GPs and I’d like to thank all the staff and all our member practices for all their hard work and support.
The recent Board selection process was influenced by the feedback from last year’s member survey results in terms of promoting a geographical spread and multi-disciplinary membership of the Board. However, there weren’t any applications from the Southern part of the patch covered by PCNs 5 & 6. The Federation is currently working with the LMC, CCG and member practices in that area through their PCN Clinical Directors to agree a process to co-opt an additional member to the Board. It is hoped that this process will be completed ahead of the July Annual General Meeting (AGM).
I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight our AGM which will be held on Thursday 22nd July. This give us the opportunity to update and inform our members on the Federations progress, the achievements we have made and the support to practices and patients in what has been our most difficult year as well as us all having to navigate the many changes across the current landscape, we will also be announcing our business plans for the next 12 months.
Stay safe and well!
Anuj
Dr Anuj Patel
Patients
Your PPG Network – Communicate to avoid abuse!
People are impatient to return to being able to see clinicians in person and need to know what is happening at their surgery and why. PPGs can work with practices to produce newsletters explaining the current situation and what will happen in the future. However, this is pointless unless patients’ attention is drawn to the information.
Practices should be able to text patients to that effect and provide a link to the website. A sentence or two added to the general answerphone message could direct patients to the information on the website and offer printouts to patients without Internet connectivity.
Copies of the newsletter can also be placed on the external doors and windows of the surgery and possibly placed with local pharmacies. These simple measures would contribute to reducing patient frustration and the consequent abusive conversations with receptionists.
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!
Barnet Federated GPs are currently in the process of redesigning their website to ensure it meets the requirements of member practices and patients. We are pleased to announce that our new website will be launched ahead of our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July.
GP support to the Rapid Response Team
Service is due to be decommissioned at the end of June 2021.
Supporting the provision of COVID vaccines to housebound patients!
We are very pleased to inform you that the housebound COVID vaccination programme that the Federation is currently supporting is going well and the number of referrals has significantly reduced. BFGs are happy to provide support as per the demand of the practices.
The Abuse Must Stop!
The newly formed Institute of General Practice Managers has launched a new campaign with the tag #theabusemuststop. They have created a powerful video which has been shared nationally. To view the video, please click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAM3fSDq9kA
Dates for your diary
7th July, 13:00 – 13:45 – Pan Barnet Event – Prediabetes
22nd July 2021, 13:00 -14:00 – Barnet Federated GPs Annual General Meeting (AGM)
For further practice support, training information and research updates please see below
Support For Our Practices
Welcome to our vacancy board – Do you have a vacancy or looking for a role in Barnet?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic person to provide leadership to the Governance work within Barnet Federated GPs and Federated4Health. If you are interested in the role, please refer to the Job Description attached or email: barnet.federation@nhs.net
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.
HealtheIntent
The Population Health Needs & Inequalities and Childhood Immunisations dashboards have recently been updated with new functionality and more information, available to you through your HealtheAnalytics log in. Please refer to the attached document for more information on what information these dashboards provide. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the HealtheIntent team on nclccg.digitalhelpdesk@nhs.net.
EAS Appointments Provision and how to access them
Further to the ongoing work with the CCG and PCN CDs and PM, we are looking to split EAS appointments by PCN. We would envisage this happening towards July and August. For more information on how to book these appointments, please refer to the attached document with embedded appointment booking process.
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
Recruiting now for Training Nurse Associates (TNA), Oct 21 cohort
Email has been circulated to all PCN and Practice Managers requesting expression of interest for current staff to develop their careers, or request that a TNA is recruited on their behalf, for the next intake, starting in Oct 21.
Please note that TNAs are now included in ARRS roles.
Closing date 6th July 2021
For more information, please refer to the attached employer guide to TNAs, TNA FAQs and TNA entry criteria summary.
If you would like an external recruit, please let Kyra know as soon as possible: kyra.rowlatt@nhs.net
Barnet Primary Care Training Hub Workforce Survey 2021
Every few years we ask what matters most to people working in primary care. This has been a year like no other, so we would like to know how you are and what training and support is needed over the next year or two.
We are asking all staff working in Primary care in Barnet to complete a survey to capture their views . It will take about five minutes to share your views. You do not n need to provide your name or organisation.
You can leave any questions blank and skip anything that is not relevant to you.
We would be grateful if you could forward to staff in your practice in case we haven’t captured their name in the database.
You can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YWDSVGJ
For information, please contact Sharon Ralph via: Barnet.cepncomms@nhs.net
Barnet Primary Care Training Hub Workforce Survey 2021
Research
Barnet Study Updates
Current research activity:
Vacc on Track – Currently recruiting at Watling Medical Centre, Millway Medical Practice, and The Old Courthouse Surgery. The study team are exploring the use of SMS translation to five languages to reach areas of the migrant population we may be missing. Vaccine uptake is a hot topic in the media at the moment!
Currently recruiting:
HomeHealth RCT – Study aiming to assess the clinical effectiveness of the HomeHealth intervention in enabling independence in older people with mild frailty. Renumeration: £295.50 for recruiting 20-30 patients.
PAM – RCT evaluating the effectiveness of a brief remote intervention aiming to support adherence to patients prescribed antihypertensive medication. Up to £1,767 renumeration for recruiting 11 patients.
APPLE-Tree – RCT assessing the effectiveness of a well-being intervention that is aimed at reducing cognitive decline in people with memory problems. Renumeration: £200 for screening 50 patients.
For more information, please contact Deborah Onabajo via: barccg.barnetresearchnetwork@nhs.net or 020 7685 5909.