Chair Update
Dear Members, Colleagues & Patients
I hope it’s not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year!
Whilst we are managing the ongoing rise in demand for patient access in difficult times for the whole NHS, it is our indispensable Practice Managers who keep our practices going. Dealing with our day to day operational, staffing, regulatory and financial issues is becoming increasingly complex. Keeping ahead of all the changes is incredibly challenging in what is otherwise quite an isolated role.
That is why I’m really pleased to see the weekly practice manager virtual drop in sessions, co-ordinated and chaired by the Federation’s Practice Support Team, are proving so popular. They provide a safe and supportive space in which to discuss any hot topics and share best practice and good ideas. On Tuesday the 31st of January we have organised a face to face Practice Manager’s Forum at Finchley Memorial Hospital. Please encourage your PMs to attend what I am sure will be a really supportive meeting.
Turning to patient access again, don’t forget the ‘in hours’ Remote GP support sessions the Federation continues to offer direct to practices. Every month we are routinely delivering over 60 hrs of remote consultations to practices. These sessions are provided by local GPs who are familiar with our systems. I am sure better option than going out to more expensive locum agencies. Please contact us well in advance if you would like to purchase some of these sessions.
Looking ahead, as some of our clinical services contracts either come to an end or will do so very soon, our board will need to plan for the future of the organisation. This scenario is being faced by many GP federations across the country in light of the recent NHS reorganisations and financial situation. As a result we will need to adapt, however our fantastic team will continue to be focussed on supporting our member practices and working alongside your PCNs. In due course we will be asking for your input in helping to shape our future.
As ever, thank you all for your ongoing support and to the hard working team at the Fed.
Best wishes,
Dr Ahmer Farooqi
Patients
GP Patient Survey/Intra-PCN mutual support
Stewart Block, Co-Chair at Community Barnet Primary Care Group and PPG Chair at Heathfielde PPG and Malcolm Kohen, BPPN Chair & PPG Chair at St Andrew’s Medical Practice had an initial discussion on using the GP Patient survey analysis for the purpose of mutual learning within PCNs. A way forward has been outlined which will be reviewed within the respective PCN before succeeding to the next stage. Further details will be shared with member practices in due course.
If you have any questions, please email: barnetpatientgroup@nhs.net
Headlines
NHS 111, Saturday Evening, Sunday, and Bank Holiday Service
The Federation has been commissioned by the ICB to provide GP appointments not covered within the PCN EA. Although the service is aimed primarily at the 111 service, it is also accessible via the Federation call centre, making sure that no appointment goes to waste. This service will be combined with and running alongside GP sessions being provided to PCNs within EAS in order to achieve economies of scale. The service is available 08.00-20.00 on each bank holiday.
Acute Respiratory Infection Hubs (ARIH)
Commissioners have approached us to provide two ARIHs in Barnet. We are proposing to repurpose the afternoon PAH appointments for use in the ARIH hub. Our aim is to dovetail both the PAH and ARIH services into the same clinical sessions.
Polio Clinic
The Federation hosted Polio Outreach Clinics on the Federation EMIS platform on behalf of PCNs 5 and 6 on 18th and 21st December. The aim of the service was to improve underrepresented vaccinations in the Jewish community. 144 appointments were offered during the period of operation.
Ken Porter Ward
The service provides a fortnightly ward round by a senior GP and is performing well with no reported issues.
BFG Recruiting for BFG Extended Access (EA) service
BFGs will be onboarding new sessional GPs into the EA service. If you would like to find out more about the onboarding process as well as sessions and how to book them or would like to join the Federation, please email: barnet.federation@nhs.net
Date for your diary – Pan Barnet Event
Wednesday 1st February 2023 at 13.00 – Fostering Service
Click here to join the meeting
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?
Advertising job opportunities via the Federation website!
Practices and professionals seeking job opportunities in Barnet can advertise through our website on our Pan Barnet Noticeboard: https://barnetfederatedgps.org.uk/pan-barnet-recruitment/
SMI Physical Health Checks
- The contract is being delivered to the activity level which is an aggregated total of 250 health checks per month from July 2022 to March 2023.
- The reporting and payment process for SMI’s has been aligned into a simpler, easier to use format. This workstream will support communication of performance and payment by PCN.
- We are currently working closely with Community Barnet to provide targeted support to practices, and to shape patient and practice engagement plans to further enhance service utilisation.
- As part of our contract, Community Barnet will be working directly with practices that have traditionally found engagement with their patient groups challenging.
Paediatric Assessment Hub (PAH)
- In response to the rise of Strep-A in children, we were approached by commissioners for assistance to facilitate additional appointments in hours at GP practices.
- Expressions of interest were sent to practices of which five offered to help with a total capacity of around 200 appointments per week.
- The aim was for patients meeting the criteria of registered in Barnet, 16 years or under, with a set of predetermined acute conditions.
- Patients would be redirected via 111 or following an assessment at Barnet ED.
- Due to settings within the directory of services preventing referrals from 111, the focus is shifting entirely to ED redirections from Barnet ED who would like to use the morning only appointments.
- We expect to trial a soft launch with the ED by the end of January
PCN Extended Access (EA) Service Update
- The service is being provided in line with the service models agreed with each of the PCNs, with some ad hoc changes due to availability of staff.
- We are working to mitigate these issues by providing capacity at times that are preferred by clinicians, particularly Saturday mornings, and by utilising other staff roles to make up shortfalls in hours from the reduced nurse capacity.
- The call centre staff have been instructed that they can directly book face-to-face appointments for children 5 years and under.
- We are working with each of the PCNs to embed the ARRS roles into the service which we hope to implement in the next few weeks.
- Based on the feedback from our GP colleagues, and as per the Fuller Stocktake recommendations, we will be moving from 12 to 15 minutes given the increased complexity of cases being seen within the service.
- A new process is being implemented for reporting on PCN EA subcontracted activity and communicating this information with practice and PCN colleagues. This will inform practice staff of the available slots on a weekly basis, which should improve utilisation of slots across staff roles.
EA Service Provision and how to Access them
Weekdays 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 8:00am – 8:00pm
Weekday appointments are same day bookable and released in two phases at 10:00am and 3:00pm.
Saturday appointments are released in two phases, on Monday at 8:00am and Wednesday at 8:00am.
If you have any questions or queries, please contact our services team on: barnetfederatedgps.services@nhs.net
Training Information and Opportunities
For all Barnet Training Hub events and training opportunities, please visit: https://www.barnetcepn.org.uk/
NCL Low-Calorie Diet: Referrer Refresher Training
Join Islington’s Dr Karl Roberts and Xyla to learn more about the Low-Calorie Diet Programme, which helps patients achieve excellent results in both weight loss and lowered glucose levels and how patients can be referred.
The Training will cover the following:
- Pathway overview, aims and the patient journey
- Identifying eligible patients & referring into the service
- Medication changes
- Tips on how to increase referrals
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ncl-low-calorie-diet-referrer-refresher-training-tickets-514757061227
For more information, please email: Kirti.shah2@nhs.net
The Primary Care Survival Toolkit
This Primary Care Survival Toolkit is aimed at health professionals working in the primary care sector who want to build resilience as individuals and as employers. The support highlighted in this toolkit draws on offerings from the NCL Training Hub and the General Practice Provider Alliance (GPPA). It ranges from capacity management to wellness to long term career development. We hope that these resources will help support primary care professionals to cope with the systemic and seasonal pressures that they face.
View the survival toolkit on the NCL Training Hub website: www.ncltraininghub.org/survival-toolkit
NCL Low-Calorie Diet: Referrer Refresher Training
Date and time: Thursday 16 February, 13:30 – 14:30 November
Audience: All NCL Clinicians
Queries: k.sypsa@nhs.net
The Low-Calorie Diet is a unique evidence-based programme available to patients with Type 2 Diabetes completely free of charge. It aims to achieve significant weight loss, reduction in medication required and achieve remission of type 2 diabetes.
This refresher training will cover the following:
- Pathway overview, aims and the patient journey
- Identifying eligible patients & referring into the service
- Medication changes
- Tips on how to increase referrals
For further information and to book: https://www.ncltraininghub.org/events/ncl-low-calorie-diet-referrer-refresher-training-1
GP Survey: GP physical activity promotion for depression
Are you a GP and interested in physical activity & mental health?
The NIHR and University of Bath are looking for all GPs (GPs, GP locums, GP partners, salaried GPs, GP retainers or GP registrars) to help with research looking into GPs’ experiences of promoting physical activity to individuals with depression in primary care.
The survey is completely anonymous, takes around 5 minutes, and there is also the chance to win 1 of 10 vouchers worth £40.
Engagement deadline: 31 January 2023
Survey link: https://bathreg.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/gp-physical-activity-promotion-for-depression-1
NHSE Training: Core Skills training Sessions
NHSE are very pleased to confirm that two, free core skills training sessions are now available throughout February and March 2023. These are bitesized sessions and will equip managers and their teams with the tools, resources and knowledge to become effective leaders and to develop strong resilience to thrive in their roles.
Transition to Leadership (booking link: Transition to Leadership)
This session highlights the challenges of leadership in the context of primary care and supports new or aspiring leaders to achieve their leadership ambitions.
Dates of training sessions:
Thursday 9 February – 10am – 11.30am
Tuesday 21 February – 12pm – 1.30pm
Wednesday 1 March – 2pm – 3.30pm
Thursday 9 March – 10am – 11.30am
Tuesday 14 March – 2pm – 3.30pm
Wednesday 22 March – 10am – 11.30am
Thursday 30 March – 12pm – 1.30pm
Recharge and Recover (booking link: Recharge and Recover)
This session teaches life skills and self-awareness that are valuable in enabling learners to recover from intense work periods.
Dates of training sessions:-
Wednesday 22 February – 11.30am – 1.30pm
Thursday 23 February – 2pm – 4pm
Tuesday 28 February – 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday 15 March – 10am – 12pm
Thursday 23 March – 12pm – 2pm
Tuesday 28 March – 2pm – 4pm
For more information please contact: Pam Hobson, NHS England pamhobson@nhs.net
Research
Research Studies for Barnet GP Practices
Please see below summaries of the three studies:
Vapeline
Aim: To determine whether e-cigarettes help smokers quit when not accompanied by intensive behavioural support
Benefits: Renumeration of approximately £400, free carbon monoxide monitor
Practice involvement: Send out text messages, carbon monoxide monitoring at 6 months
ELOPE-GDM
Aim: To explore women’s experiences of being tested for and living with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Benefits: Remuneration of at least £200, participation in a novel research area
Practice involvement: Database search, eligibility check, send out text messages
Harmonie
Aim: To assess efficacy of Nirsevimab in preventing RSV hospitalisations in infants
Benefits: Remuneration of £265 + £53 per recruited pt. Opportunity to take part in vital vaccine research.
Practice involvement: Database search and send out text messages
For more information, please feel free to contact:
Dr Jo Yong – barccg.barnetresearchnetwork@nhs.net
David Jones at Noclor – davidjones@nhs.net
Narendra Samarasekara – narendra.samarasekara@nhs.net