Avon LMCs Newsletter on 12-06-24

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The ALMC Newsletter

Welcome to our weekly newsletter, sharing the latest news and topics of interest for practices.

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– LATEST NEWS –

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I’m writing this after spending the afternoon at Weston Grand Pier courtesy of the GPCB pan-BNSSG mental health workshop. I am grateful to One Care for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to catch up with so many GP colleagues – old and new. I’m embarrassed to say it was my first time walking down the Pier, despite living in the area for 18 years, but grateful it was not as long a walk as Southend Pier, where I grew up. Sadly, no-one took me up on the offer of riding the Weston Sky View Wheel!

There’s been some “noise” in the system recently, both locally and nationally, about the use of Physician Associates (PAs) in general practice. As such, it felt like the right time to consolidate some of the guidance around this, as well as encouraging a sense of perspective in this area. On a personal level, I can understand why the medical profession may be feel an existential threat from Medical Associate Professions, especially as the GMC will be the regulator from December 2024. However, many practices (and the out of hours service) have integrated PAs into their practice teams, and they have been in post for the last few years. I hope the guidance we are sharing is helpful for these practices to continue using PAs safely within the multi-disciplinary environment.

Finally, a shout out to ensure you have a vote in the upcoming GPC England ballot which opens on 17^th June. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet”

Dr Shaba Nabi
Chair Avon LMC

Avon LMC has consolidated guidance around the use of Physician Associates in General Practice.

Please click here to view

This opens on 17^th June and stays open until 29^th July. It is open to Partners only who are members of the BMA. Please use this link to join the BMA or update your details.

It’s not too late to sign up for this and it’s open to all practice members. It will give you all the information you need about the upcoming ballot and the menu of options for collective action.

For those unable to attend, this roadshow will not be recorded, but the roadshow taking place at BMA House on 18th July will be recorded and shared after this.

Question: Some private menopause clinics are asking us to continue the prescribing of low dose, unopposed oestrogen (as HRT) for women with an intact uterus and no mirena in situ. They have advised us that in exceptional cases it is acceptable to prescribe outside of its license, as long as a woman is having 6-monthly scans. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Answer:  Oestrogen for HRT is TLS green in the BNSSG formulary so perfectly acceptable for a GP to take over prescribing. However, if it is prescribed outside local  and national guidance (NICE and BMS) then the responsibility for this falls with the prescriber: ie – the GP. Avon LMC would advise caution when being asked to prescribe any medication outside of its local and national scope and pass the responsibility back to the specialist – both within the NHS and private sector.

Join us for ‘Empowering sessional GPs’ from 10 to 16 June, a week dedicated to celebrating and empowering sessional GPs. This event will feature blogs and content showcasing the opportunities, diversity and safety within the profession, with a special day focused on locum GPs. GP partners will also benefit from content promoting the advantages of offering the model contract to their employees, alongside guidance on ensuring good working practices.

Take a look at the new GP Diary app, which helps GPs understand their working patterns, and the annual leave calculator that simplifies leave entitlement calculations.

While we are all waiting in anticipation for the general election manifestos, the BMA has developed its own election manifesto.

• Thursday 6 June General practice bulletin (mailchi.mp)
•  Tuesday 11 June General practice bulletin (mailchi.mp) 

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– LATEST TRAINING AND EVENTS –

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Please click here to view the New to Practice/Preceptorship Programme overview

The BNSSG Training Hub would like to invite Mental Health Nurse Practitioners to its 2nd Networking Event! The morning will include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training and the opportunity to network with other practitioners in the BNSSG area to share good practice.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based behavioural therapy and can be used to work with a range of presentations and difficulties.

This event is being held at Shaftesbury Park (BS16 1LG), more info on travel and directions can be found here.

Date: 2nd July 2024
Time: 9:00 – 13:00
Where: Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay, Gloucestershire BS16 1LG
For: Mental Health Nurse Practitioners

To register please click here

Episode Three of the BNSSG Good News show is out now, watch here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G9KPzCWSpg4
 
Or find it on our website BNSSG Good News – BNSSG Training Hub
 
BNSSG Good News showcases amazing projects and initiatives going on in Primary Care in our area. In today’s episode, Irorho Mousah, local GP and GP Fellow at the BNSSG Training Hub, presents an episode focusing on supporting staff in the workplace.

• 1 July Project management for clinicians
•  3 July Understanding functional assessment medicine
•  4 July Bowel cancer screening for primary care non-clinical staff
•  9 July AAC guidance on titrating patients and statin intolerance
•  9 July Breast cancer screening for primary care non-clinical staff
• 10 July Raring to return: supporting GPs after a period of leave
• 16 July CYP EduForum: six week check
• 25 July FCP Workshop – An interpretation of blood results in MSK cases

Please see here for full event details.
For further information please contact Bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net

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