Welcome
Welcome to the June edition of the NHS South Yorkshire Primary Care Bulletin.
We wanted to start by mentioning the pilot to test new ways of working within General Practice which I emailed PCN Clinical Directors and PCN Managers about recently.
NHS England will work in partnership with PCNs across 7 ICBs in England to test new ways of working within general practice and to understand how General Practice further delivers on the Fuller Stocktake and General Practice Access recovery vision.
Each ICB will select two PCNs to work closely together with the ICB and NHS England (NHSE) to determine the operational changes and improvements needed to optimise the general practice operating model, and support GPs and wider practice teams to meet increasing demand and complexity across urgent and proactive care. The data and evidence that is generated will bring benefits for GPs, the wider workforce, and patients and will help inform future decisions about General Practice resourcing and contracting mechanisms.
South Yorkshire ICB is seeking expressions of interest for the programme from PCNs who will then apply through a grant application process. Selection criteria have been set nationally and final sign-off of the successful PCN’s will sit with NHS England, however the ICB will ensure a robust and objective process with input from local independent stakeholders to select the final PCNs for NHS England approval.
The slide pack with more detailed information about the programme can be viewed here. Expression of interest does not commit you to the programme or submitting a bid, but we will work with those interested PCNs to provide more detailed information to support them to decide whether to submit a final application. The timescales for selection are very tight. Please could you express your interest to syicb.syprimarycare@nhs.net by 28 June 2024.
We will be holding a Teams briefing on Thursday 4 July, 1-2pm. If you would like to attend, please register your interest to syicb.syprimarycare@nhs.net by 28 June 2024.
Anthony Fitzgerald, Executive Place Director for Doncaster and Executive Lead for Primary Care, NHS South Yorkshire
Dr Andy Hilton, Chair, NHS South Yorkshire Primary Care Alliance
Items covered in this edition include:
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South Yorkshire Primary Care Race Equality Network
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South Yorkshire Innovation Showcase 2024: celebrating innovative practice
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South Yorkshire Integrated Stroke Delivery Network
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Pharmacy First newsletter
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Testing for Thalassaemia
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Referring to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
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Revised Cancer Waiting Times Standards
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Cervical Screening Management System (CSMS)
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UKHSA letter on increase in non O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections
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Change of vaccine for the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination in pregnancy programme from 1st July 2024
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Pharmacy First Resources for General Practice Teams
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RCGP Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation
NEWS UPDATES
South Yorkshire Primary Care Race Equality Network
NHS South Yorkshire ICB is working with local clinicians and partner organisations to establish a South Yorkshire Race Equality Network for Primary Care staff. The Network is open to all staff working across Primary Care including General Practice, Optometry, Pharmacy and Dentistry, and welcomes attendance from allies wanting to improve their understanding of the issues and challenges. The group will meet on a quarterly basis (usually on a weekday evening over MS Teams, with occasional in-person dates) offering an interesting programme of guest speakers. Read more here.
As you may be aware the first expanded Network meeting is on 20 June at 7pm via Teams. There is still time to join – details here. Via Teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 391 573 411 115 Passcode: GEsNuH
If you have any questions or comments, please contact syicb.syprimarycare@nhs.net.
South Yorkshire Innovation Showcase 2024: celebrating innovative practice
The South Yorkshire Innovation Showcase is a new initiative that aims to recognise and celebrate the strength of our local health and care system by showcasing examples of good practice and sharing great ideas that could be scaled up to benefit our communities.
We would love to hear about the innovative projects you or your colleagues have been leading. All you need to do is complete this brief Innovative Practice Form by midnight on 29 July - it should only take about 10 minutes.
We are keen to hear from people across South Yorkshire from health and care organisations, as well as our partners in academia and industry. This initiative is delivered by the South Yorkshire Innovation Hub, a partnership between the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System and Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber.
We are particularly keen to hear about projects that can help achieve the South Yorkshire Integrated Care System’s four Bold Ambitions. We know that there are many high impact, innovative activities that are happening across South Yorkshire that might not align to one of the four Bold Ambitions. If you have an innovative project that you think should be celebrated and scaled up so that more people can benefit, we are keen to hear about it through our open category.
We hope being part of the South Yorkshire Innovation Showcase will bring benefits for you, including:
• Recognition for you and your colleagues for excellent practice being delivered in the region.
• Greater awareness and understanding of your work thanks to the opportunity to showcase your project/initiative at the South Yorkshire Innovation Showcase celebration event on Tuesday 24 September.
• An opportunity to network and strengthen relationships with key organisations in the region including health and care providers, academic institutions and industry partners. This may in turn lead to new opportunities for funding or professional development.
• Contributing to create a culture of learning and innovation across our health and care system.
• The chance to learn from peers conducting similar work and understand where further improvements could be made to service provision.
Please visit South Yorkshire Innovation Showcase 2024 :: South Yorkshire I.C.S. (syics.co.uk) to find out more and download a programme pack. If you have any queries about the application process, please contact Andrew Woodcock a.woodcock2@nhs.net.
South Yorkshire Integrated Stroke Delivery Network
Please 
click here for the South Yorkshire Integrated Stroke Delivery Network newsletter. Dr Kirsty Harkness (SY ISDN Acute Clinical Lead) has kindly put together highlights from the European Stroke Organisation Conference that took place in May in Switzerland. Unfortunately, they were unable to add it to the newsletter, but wanted to share it here.
Pharmacy First newsletter
Please click here for the South Yorkshire Pharmacy First Newsletter.
PRACTICE SUPPORT
Testing for Thalassaemia
NHS Sou
th Yorkshire has been contacted by the ‘UK Thalassaemia society’ with information for GPs on testing for Thalassaemia.
Thalassaemia is an inherited blood condition affecting the ability of the body to make its own red blood cells. Those affected by the major form of the disease require 2-4 weekly blood transfusions, among other serious and life-long effects.
Thalassaemia is thought to have evolved in response to malaria, and inheritance is most prevalent in people of Mediterranean, Asian and South Asian and North African heritage.
Due to centuries of diaspora, thalassaemia is found all over the world, including the UK.
Inheritance: If both parents carry a gene for thalassaemia, there is a 1:4 likelihood in every pregnancy of the child inheriting the major form of the condition, and a 2:4 chance of being a carrier of the gene themselves.
Carriers of the gene (thalassaemia “trait”) are usually healthy and likely to be unaware of it, unless they are told by a close relation that it is “in the family”, or are screened as part of a suite of routine antenatal tests. Carrier status be confirmed by a specific blood test.
The prescribed NHS pathway for testing adults and children over 1 year old for haemoglobinopathies such as thalassaemia and sickle cell disease is via a blood test, with onward referral to the nearest haematology unit if required.
Referring to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
NHS South Yorkshire have created a quick survey to see if there is a need to support people working in Primary Care refer their patients to Pulmonary rehab. The information will be used to develop support tools for Primary Care.
Data will be kept in a secure file and access will be available to the Pulmonary rehab team only. They may contact you if you have indicated you want some support with Pulmonary rehab referrals.
Revised Cancer Waiting Times Standards
In 2023, the National Cancer Waiting Times standards underwent significant revisions, resulting in the removal of the historic '2-week wait' standard. The new emphasis is now on the 28-Day Faster Diagnosis target, which aims to either rule out or diagnose cancer within this timeframe.
Patients will not necessarily be seen within the previous 2-week period, nor is it guaranteed that their initial assessment will occur in an outpatient environment. This depends on the pathway and may include straight to test.
It is important for patients to be informed that they have been referred on an 'Urgent and Suspicious of Cancer' pathway. However, they should not be given specific expectations regarding how quickly they will be seen, instead patients should be informed that they will have cancer ruled in or out within 28 days.
Change of phone numbers for Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Yorkshire Ambulance Service would like to clarify the phone numbers for the Inter-facility Transfer line and Health Care Professional line as the emergency operations centre has been receiving wrongly directed calls for non-emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) bookings.
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From 29 May 2024 our Inter-facility Transfer telephone number into the Emergency Operations Centre will change to 0330 678 4159.
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From 29 May 2024 our Health Care Professional telephone number into the Emergency Operations Centre will change to 0330 678 4145.
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From 15 April 2024 our non-emergency PTS booking telephone number will change to 0330 678 4000.
Anyone calling the old numbers will hear a message providing details of the new number to dial. For the first few weeks, callers will be transferred automatically, but after this point they will need to hang up and redial the new number.
Cervical Screening Management System (CSMS)
Our letter to ICBs and GP practices about the transition to CSMS asks that by Monday 17 June, all colleagues delivering cervical screening services should:
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Carry out a check to confirm you can access the system
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Complete part 1 and part 2 of the CSMS training
GP practices should review and update email details held on Open Exeter to continue to receive prior notification list reminders and support effective call/recall of patients
UKHSA letter on increase in non O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections
UKHSA are currently seeing an increase in the number of non O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cases. Cases are across England, Scotland and Wales. Rapid investigations are ongoing. Healthcare professionals may see increased attendances related to gastrointestinal illness.
Please see here the letter from UKHSA in relation to these cases.
Change of vaccine for the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination in pregnancy programme from 1st July 2024
This letter from UKHSA and NHS England provides information about a vaccine change from 1 July 2024 when ADACEL® (Tdap), a non-IPV-containing vaccine, will replace Boostrix-IPV® (dTaP/IPV) for the pertussis vaccination in pregnancy programme.The letter provides information for both commissioners and health professionals who are responsible for the safe delivery of this important NHS vaccination programme to pregnant women. We encourage you to share this guidance with those in your area.
Pharmacy First Resources for General Practice Teams
Local resources are now available for General Practice teams to support practices with making referrals for patients with minor illnesses to community Pharmacists through the nationally commissioned NHS Pharmacy First Service (previously called Community Pharmacist Consultation Service):
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Pharmacy First Pack for General Practice Teams - provides an overview of the service & advice for practice teams on making referrals
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Pharmacy First Overview for Primary Care Provider Alliance - provides additional information on challenges and actions to overcome these
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Pharmacy First Referral Guide Local Services (for Emis practices) - a guide for Emis practices on how to make the digital referal
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Pharmacy First Referral Guide For PharmRefer (for SystmOne Practices) - a guide for SystmOne practices on how to make a referral
For any queries or support in implementing referrals to community pharmacies please contact Claire Thomas SY ICB Community Pharmacy Clinical Lead: claire.thomas47@nhs.net
Local relationships are key to maximising the benefits of this service, please agree local referral protocols with local pharmacies before sending referrals, support is available for facilitating this if required.
RCGP Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation
Using the latest ONS data, there are estimated to be up to 50,000 veterans who reside within South Yorkshire. NHS England have invested heavily in bespoke referral pathways, both clinical and social to meet the specific needs of this cohort, and further commissioned the RCGP to produce a package that best supports practices understanding the specific needs of veterans and their families, enabling them to utilise those pathways. That package is the RCGP Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation Programme.
NHS England believe the single most effective action any GP practice can take to support veterans within their practice populations is to take the quick and simple step of signing their practice up to become Veteran Friendly Accredited.
While some of England’s 2.2m veterans may have distinct health needs (52% of veterans will have a long-term illness, disability or infirmity, which is significantly higher than general adult population at 35%), research suggests that many may be reluctant to seek help from healthcare professionals, particularly if they feel they will not be understood - meaning many may well be silently struggling. At the same time, many practices within England may be unaware of just how many of their patients are veterans.
For more information including reasons to sign up to the scheme visit the RCGP website or if you feel ready, sign up here.
