COVID-19: 27th October round-up for primary care
Thank you message for NHS staff
On Secretary of State Matt Hancock has recorded a video message, thanking all NHS staff for their work during COVID-19 and going into the winter.
PPE Reimbursement
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are working with us to develop a process to reimburse primary care contractors (general practice, dental, optometry and community pharmacy) for the additional PPE they have purchased to meet the COVID-19 infection control requirements from 27 February 2020.
Information on the process and cut-off dates for this reimbursement exercise will be announced shortly and providers must register on the DHSC PPE Portal to ensure they can continue accessing their COVID-19 infection control PPE free of charge. COVID-19 PPE is classed as the PPE that providers are required to use over and above Business-as-usual (BAU) use, due to COVID-19 infection control guidance, rather than what would have been used pre-pandemic.Processes and cut off dates may differ between different contracting groups and will be announced shortly.
We will be working with representative bodies in the coming weeks to ensure the processes are a good fit for each contracting group. Any PPE obtained from a source other than the PPE Portal after the cut-off date(s) will not be reimbursed. PPE for COVID-19 infection prevention and control is currently available to the above-mentioned providers for free from the portal. Further details providing clarity on the individual processes for each provider group will be communicated shortly.
Updated Standard Operating Procedure
As you will be aware, over recent weeks there has been a sustained increase in community transmission of COVID-19 in England, although there remains significant variation across localities. An updated version of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for community pharmacy has been published and includes the latest guidance on infection prevention and control, PPE and NHS Test and Trace to support management of the second wave.
Community pharmacy webinar – Thursday 12 November, 6pm-7pm
Community pharmacy teams across England are being invited to register to join the next national webinar with Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Director of Primary Care Ed Waller, and senior leads from the NHS England and NHS Improvement flu team and from NHS Test and Trace. Please register online and we will share the MS Teams details with you.
Changes to regulations
Amendments to NHS regulations were laid by the Department of Health and Social Care on 20 October 2020 to introduce changes to the Terms of Service for community pharmacy contractors. These are due to come into force on Monday 9 November 2020. The changes include additions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a Pandemic Treatment Protocol, remote access to services and flexible provision for flu and coronavirus vaccination or immunisation services. A range of new items already agreed as part of the five-year Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework are also covered, including: the introduction of the Discharge Medicines Service, as a new essential service from 1 January 2021; and a requirement for all pharmacies to meet the Healthy Living Pharmacy Level 1 measures.
Ask Your Pharmacist Week resources
Community pharmacy teams are invited to prepare for Ask Your Pharmacist Week which takes place on 2-9 November 2020. Organised by the National Pharmacy Association and supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement, the theme this year is ‘Your local pharmacy in the NHS family’. The aim is to build public understanding of the role of community pharmacy within the NHS consistent with the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to make greater use of community pharmacists’ skills and opportunities to engage patients. Access free campaign materials.
COVID-19: 29th October round-up for primary care
NHS Test and Trace advice
We understand that some pharmacies are being impacted by the need for staff to self-isolate. If pharmacy staff have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive case outside of work they must follow the self-isolation guidance.
It is important to maintain a COVID-19 secure environment throughout the working day by following IPC guidance, including maintaining social distancing, working behind screens, regular handwashing and wearing appropriate PPE. Thought should also be given to staff rest breaks and minimising the possibility of transmission at this time.
If a member of the pharmacy team tests positive and there is a risk to the provision of pharmaceutical services then advice regarding the individual circumstances should be sought from the local Health Protection Team (specific individual circumstances will be considered and advice may therefore appear to differ). You should also contact your NHS England and NHS Improvement Regional Office regarding possible disruption to provision of pharmaceutical services.
If a member of staff receives a negative test they do not need to self-isolate as long as:
- everyone they live with who has symptoms tests negative
- everyone in their support bubble who has symptoms tests negative
- they were not told to self-isolate for 14 days by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 App – if they were, see what to do if you've been told you've been in contact with someone who has coronavirus
- they feel well – if they feel unwell, they should stay at home until they are feeling better.
Thursday 12 November, 6pm-7pm. Community pharmacy webinar with Keith Ridge and Ed Waller. To attend please ensure you register by 12pm on 12 November.
