Chair update
Dear Colleagues,
A short penultimate contribution to the newsletter from me.
I’m pleased to say that all our services are running smoothly and we continue to provide governance and HR services to our PCNs. I’d like to congratulate our smaller management team, under Ross Arnold’s leadership, for handling the transition remarkably well.
As the ICB goes through its own restructure, with some colleagues leaving the borough, I’d like to thank the local ICB team for their hard work and partnership over the years. Together with PCN CDs, Barnet Training Hub and LMC we have been able to provide a strong voice for Barnet general practice and primary care.
We are in the process of completing the appointment of a new Fed Chair. I look forward to being able to announce who will be taking over from me soon.
I’d like to congratulate Dr Thiv Thiruudaian on successfully being reappointed as Barnet Training Hub Clinical Lead. Thiv’s passion for education and workforce development have been clearly evident over the past few years. I am sure he will continue to build on his achievements along with his brilliant team over the coming years.
As ever if you have any comments, concerns or suggestions please drop me a line through the Fed’s email.
Roll on Spring!
Ahmer
Headlines
SMI Healthcheck update
Collectively Barnet made significant progress towards the target in the first six weeks of the New Year. The Federation will again share data with practices to review activity to end February. Practices are encouraged to use the “Headlines” template from Ardens which covers all six elements required for payments. These elements are:
- Measurement of weight (BMI or BMI + Waist circumference)
- Blood pressure and pulse check (diastolic and systolic blood pressure recording or diastolic and systolic blood pressure + pulse rate)
- Blood lipid including cholesterol test (cholesterol measurement or QRISK measurement)
- Blood glucose test (blood glucose or HbA1c measurement)
- Assessment of alcohol consumption
- Assessment of smoking status
RSS Closure
The Federation continues to process referrals generated in the Bridging Service and subcontracted EA service. The Federation may need to contact GP practices for support with accessing information from Cerner (such as blood test results) whilst the Federation applies for access to Cerner. Arrangements will be kept under review during the transition period whilst the RSS is available to support practices and the Federation.
Strike Action
The Federation added additional capacity to the Bridging Service in response to the junior doctors strike action in February 2024. Appointments were available through NHS 111 and the call centre.
Practice Support GP Sessions
Barnet Federated GPs are offering to provide additional in-hours and extra Enhanced Access GP sessions to any of our member practices that may wish to take up this offer. This offer is made to all our member practices, as part of our core values of supporting all practices equally. Please use the online request form at the following link to make a request: https://forms.office.com/e/R29sdbY7KM. Kindly request one session at a time. When you click submit, you will be given the option to submit another form.
This is to ensure that all requests are managed as effectively as possible: If requested, we will endeavour to fill sessions within practice hours, but may also offer support during EA hours (18.30-21.00) as an alternative if we are not able to fill the sessions in hours. The sessions run as follows: Sessions are telephone and video consultations only, with GPs working remotely. Sessions are created in EMIS Community and booked into using the same process as for Federation EA appointments (though the slots will be reserved only for the individual practice requesting the session).
A discharge summary for each patient is sent to the practice. Appointments are 15mins, similar to EAS sessions. Federation administrators will provide support to the GP during the session. The total cost is £115.00/hour – this covers the cost of the GP time, as well as the administration and governance costs associated with putting on the sessions, as we provide a full service similar to the Enhanced Access/111, Sunday, & Bank Holiday service.
This is subject to us successfully sourcing GPs to fill the sessions and all the sessions are conducted remotely. We would of course, only charge for the sessions that were successfully provided.
If you request a session but later find that the session will no longer be required, you must notify the Federation with at least 48 hours’ notice prior to the start of the session. If we do not receive this notification, we may still charge you for the session, as we will be required to pay the GP for their time. For any queries, please email barnetfederatedgps.services@nhs.net.
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Support for our Practices
NCL GP Assistant Training Programme 2024
Aims & Objectives
The aim of this programme is to provide a consistent approach to developing skills focussed on the administrative
role for the General Practice Assistant across NCL, led by GP facilitators from across NCL.
Workload reduction
As part of the wider team, General Practice Assistants provide a support role, carrying out administrative tasks
focusing on supporting General Practitioners in their day-to-day management of patients. The role is specifically
aimed at streamlining document workflow, standardising coding, ensuring prompt and appropriate onward actions,
and signposting these to appropriate team members with the aim of reducing the administrative burden of GPs to
maximise GP consultation time and support the management of vulnerable patients with often higher administrative
clinical workload.
Releasing time for patients
Evidence suggests that effective adoption of this role has the potential to:
• improve patient access and release highly qualified staff to concentrate on treating and managing patients
with more complex conditions – HEE GPA Working Group Report 2018
• improve patient flow within surgery hours, increasing the time efficiency of appointments, and reduction of
waiting times, supporting patient experience – University of Cumbria 2017
• reduce time spent by GPs on managing correspondence by up to 85% – Surrey Heath Community Providers
Workforce resilience, development, and staff retention
The aim is to develop our primary care non-clinical work force, enable career progression, staff retention and
resilience.
Evidence shows that GP assistants have a positive impact on GP retention and job satisfaction.
The Programme enables five of the ten High Impact actions to be met- GP forward View, 2016 pg 52: Personal
Productivity, Develop the Team, Productive Workflows, active signposting and Development of QI expertise.
The NCL Training Hubs General Practice Assistant Programme
• Fully funded programme run over 8 sessions involving:
• Introduction to the programme for GP Assistant trainees and GP mentors and Practice Managers
• Medical Terminology training sessions (basic and advanced)
• Half day (3 hour) remote sessions involving large group learning & small group discussions putting learning
into practice.
• Focussed on document management and workflow optimisation for the practice and teams
• Between sessions, learners will be expected to carry out workplace-based learning and supervision from a
GP mentor.
• As part of the course, the trainees will be expected to carry out a work-place based Quality Improvement
project based around the course content
GP assistants will be trained to
- • Sort and prioritise clinical post
- • Extract and code relevant information from clinical letters• Arrange appointments, referrals and follow up appointments of patients.
• Complete basic (non-opinion) forms for the GP to approve and sign, such as insurance forms and mortgage forms. - • Help the GP liaise with outside agencies, for example, arranging for on call doctors to provide advice on the phone,
or to arrange admission, allowing the GP to continue with their consultation(s)
• Support the GP practice team with population health monitoring.
Requirements for the course
• MS Teams – NHS Login is most effective
• Working Camera and Mic to join in each session – it is an interactive and collaborative course
• Mentor – to support and engage with GP Asst as they complete the course to support the course content and
embed them in their new role – this is usually a GP but can be anyone that will support and assist the trainee in their
learning
Who is it for
• Admin and Reception team
• Those who have been in practice at least 6 month
Bookings
To book a place for one of your reception/admin team.
Please contact Emily on: barnet.cepnadmin@nhs.net
Pan Barnet Event
Tuesday 5th of March – Covering the topic of Oral Health.
We are very pleased to be joined by Dr Rakhee Patel, consultant in Dental public health from Kings College, to cover the topic of oral health and accessing dental care. She will aim to lay the dental landscape and highlight the urgent care pathway, update us on the community dental service pathways and give us her top tips on advising patients how to access dental care in the borough. She will also touch on managing oral health in our care homes.
We are happy to hear from Lauren Neill, Health Improvement Officer from our local public health team, who will present on the Healthy Start project, a means tested scheme to promote to families including information on purchasing healthy food items and vitamins. She will also discuss the Breastfeeding Welcome initiative.
We welcome Dr Esther Freeman, Consultant Paediatrician with an interest in Diabetes and Endocrinology, to discuss an interesting new Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) prevention e-learning tool in children.
We are pleased to be joined by Dr Nick Dattani for an ICB update, and Dr Ahmer Farooqi for our Federation update.
You are encouraged to bring along any questions around these topics that you may have on the day to ensure your learning needs are met.
Click here to join the meeting
For all Training Hub events and training opportunities, please visit: https://www.ncltraininghub.org/events
For further practice support, training information and research updates please see below
Anisha Sodha – SODHA, Anisha (THE SPEEDWELL PRACTICE) anishasodha@nhs.net
Do you support, train or supervise learners at work?
Are you responsible for their educational and professional development?
Would you like to meet fellow educators across Barnet, share practice and get support for your own professional development? Please join us at our Multi/inter professional education and peer support sessions. Our next Multiprofessional session is on 19th March 1300-1400– part 1 of Introduction to Coaching
Learning aims
- Understand the basic principles of coaching
- Appreciate the difference between teaching, coaching and mentoring
- Understand the importance and skills of active listening
- Understand why coaching is a useful skill for supervisors.
Take a look at the poster attached for our other events
See you on the 19th March at 1300
This edition features opportunities for pharmacists undertaking independent prescribing training from March 2024 and support in recruitment of entry-level roles in NCL as well as upcoming events on the Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease NCL Pathway. We would also like to highlight the NCL review of clinical supervision in general practice and send out a congratulations to our NCL HCA’s!
Please forward to colleagues who may be interested in any of the following information.
NCL Training Hub
www.ncltraininghub.org
Are you recruiting entry level roles?
We want to hear from you!
We are building a talent pool of North Central London candidates keen to start working in the sector:
- We can promote and provide job matching for entry level vacancies in NCL – this includes advertising the role with local candidates and providing a pre-screening service – this service is free
- This would be complementary to your existing recruitment practices and be an opportunity to be linked to a local workforce supply
Entry level roles are those that do not require any experience or where on the job training can be provided – for example admin, facilities or HCA roles
NCL Review of Clinical Supervision in General Practice
The ICB has commissioned NCL Training Hub to review clinical supervision in general practice. The results from this review will shape a tailored support package to promote effective clinical supervision in general practice.
Anyone involved in clinical supervision within an NCL general practice is invited to complete this survey, which aims to examine existing supervision models in NCL, explore areas requiring additional support to deliver effective clinical supervision for multi-disciplinary teams and identify opportunities to support clinical supervision in practice.
Congratulations to the NCL HCA’s
On 31 January 2024, NCL Training Hub held a graduation event for 19 Healthcare Assistants who completed the Introduction to GP Training programme. This was the third cohort of training delivered by NCL TH, targeting new HCA’s working across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington.
The course began in May 2023 and covered a range of topics including Care Certificate, Hypertension, and Diabetes and included monthly peer support sessions facilitated by Saloni Gaglani, Camden TH Borough Nurse Lead, who, along with Mona Omar, Senior Project Officer at NCL Training Hub, were both fundamental contributors to the success of the programme.
The aim of this programme was to enhance the clinical understanding of HCA’s, enabling them to deliver more targeted patient care and improve chronic disease retention in general practice. This is part of a wider workforce development initiative, which is increasing capacity across general practice by creating skilled teams to work alongside GPs to improve and enhance the care given to patients.
Congratulations once again to the HCA’s for their hard work and dedication throughout the course! 🎉
NCL Events
NCL PQS 23/24: Respiratory Training Session
Date and time: Tuesday 5 March, 13:00 – 14:00
Audience: NCL clinicians
NCL Training Hub in collaboration with the NCL ICB Medicines Management team present the PQS 23/24: Respiratory Training Session, designed to support primary care prescribers’ delivery of the NCL PQS Respiratory therapeutic area covering education.
Childhood Immunisations Drop-in Session
(March 2024)
Audience: NCL immunisation leads, nurses, practice managers and other members of staff working on childhood immunisations
The NCL Immunisation Improvement Project Managers are running monthly drop-in sessions throughout 2024 for staff in NCL general practices to discuss and get the latest updates on childhood immunisations.
For more information and access to the booking link,
LTC Update Webinar: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – understanding the NCL pathway
Date and time: Thursday 4 April, 13:00 – 14:00
Audience: Primary care professionals who may not be familiar with the NAFLD pathway or care
This session will cover:
- Who is at risk of NAFLD?
- How the diagnosis / exclusion of other diagnoses is made
- Risk assessment as per the NCL pathway
Referrals advice
For more information and access to the booking link,
Other Events and Courses
North Central London Integrated Schwartz Rounds
Upcoming dates and times:
- Friday 23 February, 13:00 – 14:00: Sharing to Connect: Balancing the Professional and the Personal
- Friday 22 March, 13:00 – 14:00: When Taking a Pause Made a Difference
- Friday 26 April, 13:00 – 14:00: Endings and Saying Goodbye
Audience: All health and social care staff
Organisation: Keeping Well NCL, Community Matters and The Point of Care Foundation
Schwartz Rounds are a multidisciplinary forum designed for staff to come together once a month to discuss and reflect on the emotional and social challenges associated with working in health and social care.
For more information and access to the booking links
Haringey – Tongue Tie Awareness Education Session
Dates and times:
- Tuesday 23 April, 09:30 – 12:30
- Monday 14 October, 09:30 – 12:30
Audience: Clinical professionals in Haringey e.g. health visitors, nurses, midwives (also open to others who are interested)
Location: The Triangle Centre, South Tottenham, N15 6NU
Morris House Group Practice with the support of Haringey Council are organising 2 educational half days 23rd of April 2024 and 14th of October 2024), at the Triangle centre, to talk about tongue ties and to raise awareness around the condition and its treatment. More information can be found in the event leaflet.
To book your place please email
morrishouse.minorsurgery@nhs.net
NCL Training Hub
www.ncltraininghub.org
Barnet Educators Learning & Peer Support Webinars & Case Study Sessions
Do you support, train or supervise learners at work?
Are you responsible for their educational and professional development?
Then join this series of lunchtime session for up-to-date interactive sessions covering the following topics:-
(Open to all clinical and non-clinical staff)
Session 7 – Introduction to Coaching Part 1 19th March
1300-1400
Session 8– Introduction to Coaching Part 2 21st May
Session 9 – Introduction to Leadership 23rd July
Session 10– Celebrating Diversity & Challenging Discrimination 20th August
Every other month starting in April 2024 – a focused session
on case studies, shared practice, reflective practice led by
our leads across disciplines.1300-1400
23rd April
25th June
20th August
Join the Barnet Educators Peer support what apps group – https://chat.whatsapp.com/G9kO4QVRy5zDRbqV0h7KS
Testing to Check The New CSMS User Readiness Now Available
The new NHS Cervical Screening Management System (CSMS) can test their access ahead of the official system go-live.
It is important to note that this check is solely for testing access only and is not the official launch of the new CSMS. Users should continue to use the current Open Exeter system to support the NHS Cervical Screening Programme until the point of
transition to the new CSMS for cervical screening call/recall.
We encourage all users to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure a smooth transition and to address any potential access issues proactively.
The actions needed to be taken before the new CSMS goes live are outlined here.
Please forward this message to all relevant users of the new CSMS.
Instructions for Testing CSMS User Readiness:
Please note: These checks are for testing access to the new CSMS only.
Check access by clicking the following link: https://cervicalscreening.nhs.uk
Guidance to help you complete your access check: Cervical Screening Management System access check – NHS Digital
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to this important Programme.
Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please contact the CSMS Implementation Team at screening.implementation@nhs.net
NCL Fellowships funding still available for fellowships granted by end of March 2024
There is still time to submit for a SPIN/New to Practice Fellowships Programme
The Salaried Portfolio Innovation/New to Practice Fellowship scheme is a recruitment scheme to encourage and support recently qualified GPs and practice nurses into substantive salaried posts across NCL by linking them to a range of portfolio roles.
The programme aims to link local service needs and leadership opportunities (in practices, PCNs, federations, specialist role clinics, the wider health system and beyond) with the professional development needs of newly qualified practitioners.
Take a look at the information page on the NCL training hub page – NCL Training Hub
For general queries about the SPIN/New to Practice fellowship programme, please email nclicb.thgeneralpracticefellowships@nhs.net
Research
INDIGO Community
Aim: To understand more about the long-term outcomes and service use of patients living with and beyond a diagnosis of cancer
Benefits: Remuneration of £200 + additional incentives for number of text messages
Practice involvement: Database search & inviting patients via iPlato text messaging
DISCOVER ME (Commercial Study)
Aim: To create a dynamic resource of demographic, health and genetic data to enable analyses to understand clinical disease progression in primary care and risk prediction.
Benefits: Remuneration of approx. £2700 for participation and recruitment of 500 pts with added incentives
Practice involvement: Activating data sharing agreement signing, patient screening and sending of recruitment text messages
PETRA
Aim: To compare active pregabalin with an identical placebo as means of investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pregabalin.
Benefits: Remuneration of £200 + additional research costs
Practice involvement: Database search & mail-out (Can be coordinated remotely by BRN coordinators)
For expressions of interest, please contact the Barnet Research Network on nclicb.barnetresearchnetwork@nhs.net or narendra.samarasekara@nhs.net