Coventry & Warwickshire COVID-19 Portal

**Please find below the latest primary care coronavirus briefing.**

Information provided by NHS Coventry and Rugby CCG, NHS South Warwickshire CCG and NHS Warwickshire North CCG in line with Public Health England guidance.

This information may change rapidly as the situation develops. For the latest local information for primary care, visit our dedicated Coventry and Warwickshire COVID-19 support portal: https://www.cwcovid.support/  

You can also find the latest national information on the NHS England Primary Care site: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/primary-care

In today's briefing we include the latest news stories falling into the following categories:

• Latest Local Picture

• Local Updates

• Place Updates

• Latest National Picture

• Education

• Communications from NHS England

• Actions For Primary Care

Please click on the relevant section to view specific information

Please note: we are now issuing the briefing once a week (Tuesday) communications via: warnoccg.covid19primarycarecommunications@nhs.net. We would also ask that if you have questions or concerns relating to the current situation around coronavirus and COVID-19 you use the same address: warnoccg.covid19primarycarecommunications@nhs.net. Please keep us updated with any issues that you may be having so we can try to address them.

Please note that the below data does not include care home data.  

Coventry and Warwickshire COVID position up to 11.08.2020

4,129 cases now confirmed in Coventry and Warwickshire (+83 / +2.1% from Tuesday)

6 of these are currently admitted (+2 / +50.0% from Tuesday)

Admissions by Trust:

GEH: 0

UHCW: 4

SWFT: 2

CWPT: 0

436 beds still available (+10 / +2.3% from Tuesday)

1 ITU beds occupied by Covid patients (-1 / -50.0% from Tuesday)

533 reported deaths in a hospital setting (+0 / +0.0% from Tuesday)

Download the weekly data pack.

 

1. UPDATED General Practice Standard Operating Procedures v3.4

Revisions have been made to the guidance and these have been highlighted in yellow. Among those sections revised are guidance for patients at increased risk, safeguarding and symptom management and end of life care. You can read it here

2. NEW Practice action card for known or suspected COVID-19 cases

A new and revised action card for the management of known or suspected Coronavirus cases in GP Primary care settings is now available. The card details step by step actions that practices should take as well as usual contact information. You can download the card here. This link also includes updated business continuity guidance for practices.

3. REMINDER PPE

It is important that you have signed up for PPE through the new portal. Ensuring your supply of PPE will help ensure your readiness for a second wave. Access to the portal will enable your practice to order regular additional supplies that you may require. In addition, emergency resilience supplies whilst waiting for orders to arrive are available via the local Team (details are listed below). Practices are still advised to order supplies from ‘usual routes’.         

Coventry GP Practices:

PrimaryCare@coventryrugbyccg.nhs.uk or: Georgina.cady@coventryrugbyccg.nhs.uk

 

Rugby GP Practices /Rugby Health PCN:

Emma Flint: PCN Co-ordinator, c/o Clifton Road Surgery. Emma.flint2@nhs.net

Or: PrimaryCare@Coventryrugbyccg.nhs.uk

 

South Warwickshire GP Practices via the South GP Federation:

kim.dodd@southwarwickshiregps.nhs.uk

 

Warwickshire North GP Practices:

WarwickshireNorthPrimaryCare@warwickshirenorthccg.nhs.uk

4. REMINDER Antibody testing for GP practice staff 

Tests which determine if someone has had COVID-19 (coronavirus) are available across Coventry and Warwickshire, for all practice staff including locums.

Click here for details of the process. Do remember that the antibody test tells the person if they have had the virus or not, but not about any level of protection or immunity from getting the virus again. It is important to remember that anyone having this test should still adhere to the guidance regarding social distancing, hand hygiene and wearing of PPE as recommended by public health experts. If you missed the email a copy can be accessed here. 

5.NEW Support for patients and colleagues in managing COVID-19

You may find the slides from last week's webinar with Dr Nikita Kanani useful as they covered a wide range of subjects including the COVID-19 Support Fund for General Practice, Digital Primary Care, an update on the flu programme and an update on the cancer response. To view the slides click here

 

6. Delivering Diabetes Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This the ‘new normal’ Guidance is aimed at General Practice is now available to download; it includes:

How to undertake remote diabetes review 

Delivering diabetes care during a pandemic

A Quick guidance to Risk Stratification and recovery of Diabetes Services

Click on the links to download.

7. LATEST Non-acute restoration position

Please see this link for a list of non-acute services and their restoration position. 

8. Heatwave warning issued for region

A heatwave alert has been issued by the Met Office for very hot weather this week, with temperatures of over 30 degrees forecast between now and Friday. Self help advice is being promoted to the public through social media and traditional media.

9,. Booking British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreters

Support for patients can be booked through the Coventry and Warwickshire Deaf Centre, by either a Practice or a patient. With advance notice, CWAD will attend patients home to support telephone or video consultation.

Contact CWAD on T: 02476 520378 or visit for their website for more information www.coventrydeafcentre.org.uk

 

10. Flu Vaccination leaflet now available

This information leaflet explains to patients how they can help protect themselves and their children against flu this coming winter. It is available in a wide variety of languages and formats click here to view

11. Launch of the new suicide prevention microsite

A new website called Dear Life is being launched in Coventry and Warwickshire to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September. Dear Life is aims to reach people who are desperately seeking support or anyone who is worried about a loved one or someone they know. More information on the launch can be found here or you can visit the website by clicking this link

12. EMIS

Monthly EMIS Health newsletter is now available here 

13. The latest edition of E-Grapevine,

The weekly e-newsletter containing local and national news from the third sector, useful information and details of forthcoming events. In this week's edition: Latest recovery funding, a young ambassador competition and details of a new befriending service, read more here

NO UPDATES FOR Coventry and Rugby – 11 August 2020

NO UPDATES FOR Warwickshire North -11 August

UPDATES FOR South Warwickshire – 11 August 2020

14. Additional process to help reduce DNAs in Radiology 

The Radiology service at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have recently put in an additional process to reduce the Patient Did Not Attend (DNA) rates. The department are now working towards working a more paperless environment. To reduce the amount of paper we send out and that you receive, the department will replace the individual patient DNA letters you receive with a weekly list of the practice patients who have DNA’d with the service, this will be sent directly to your practice generic email address. This will be effective from Monday 17th August 2020

 

We hope that you find this improvement beneficial. Any questions or concerns please contact gpradiologyreferrals@swft.nhs.uk

15. Reviewed referral process for restored outpatient physiotherapy  

Outpatient physiotherapy services have now been restored following the closure of routine physiotherapy in response to the covid -19 pandemic. Patients will be triaged initially and then either offered a face to face consultation or virtual consultation ( phone /video conference) in line with government and Trust guidelines. Over the last few months we have reviewed the referral process and would like you to use e-rs for your musculoskeletal physiotherapy referrals. The referral form has been amended for ease of use so now all you need to do is complete the form and send to us. It can be found under Musculoskeletal Service-Physiotherapy-Warwick Hospital-Triage .The physiotherapy admin team will contact the patient and book them into an appropriate appointment. Patients are still able to self-refer.

16. Supporting Access to End of Life medicines across South Warwickshire

A useful update that includes community pharmacies in south Warwickshire who have agreed to hold on demand End of Life medicines used in south Warwickshire. Click here to view 

 

Please note all sessions are open to all localities

16. Spirometry Certification - Wednesday, 12th August at 12:30pm-13:30pm:

With speaker Joanna Purvis, Lead Respiratory Physiologist from George Elliot Hospital NHS Trust, this this webinar will highlight the importance of performing quality assured diagnostic spirometry, how to become spirometry certified and being on the spirometry register.

 

To register for FREE:

https://www.bigmarker.com/closerstill-media/Spirometry-Certification?utm_bmcr_source=southwarwccg

 

17. Gynaecology- hosted by Warwickshire North Education Programme

Date: Tuesday 18th August 2020

Time: 1.00 -2.00pm

Location: Microsoft Teams- joining details : Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

The session is open to all Clinicians as well as Practice Managers and any other staff. 

 

18. Demonstration of Docob - hosted by Warwickshire North Education Programme

Date: Tuesday 25th August 2020, 1pm – 2pm

Docobo is a telehealth technology that enables remote monitoring of patients in various settings such as care homes, patients own home etc via a web based portal and telehealth enabled devices. The results of remote monitoring such as BP, oxygen saturation, HR, temperature can be available to the clinicians remotely which will enable them to monitor patients' health and wellness without requiring a visit. Docobo has been utilised in various areas of UK to monitor patients with various complex health conditions including chronic disease monitoring. The aim is to relieve pressure on clinicians, improve patient outcomes and proactive management of chronic disease and care home patients in Warwickshire North.

Location: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

If you are unable to join the session at the scheduled time, it will be recorded and available to view on the Care for Your Career website- https://careforyourcareer.co.uk/support/medical-education/ We are also planning on posting future programming on this website for reference purposes.

19. NHS Volunteer Responder programme updates – new webinars

Fortnightly webinars are being held to provide regular updates on the NHS Volunteer Responder programme. The webinars are for referrers and colleagues working across health and care, including: primary care; social care; local authorities; government departments; voluntary sector organisations; STPs and ICSs; and NHS England and Improvement regional teams.

These webinars will provide an overview of the programme, including facts, figures and the most recent updates on programme adaptations in response to policy changes and the needs of vulnerable people.

Thursday 20 August, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Thursday 3 September, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Thursday 17 September, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Thursday 1 October, 11am - 12pm - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

20. General Practice NHSE/I Webinar

Nikki Kanani, Medical Director for Primary Care and Ed Waller, Director, Primary Care Strategy and NHS Contracts hold a regular webinar for general practice and primary care staff. 

The upcoming webinars are listed below, links and further information will be sent out as soon as we have it.

3 September (TBC)

1 October (TBC)

5 November (TBC)

3 December (TBC)

21. Medical education sessions for all

CCG supported medical education sessions available to all primary care clinicians to watch on a Wednesday lunchtime, the programme can be found on https://www.mededcoventry.com/General-practitioners. The new term will start on 2 Sept and links to the Zoom talk will be published on the site under flyers 48 hours before the session. Over the summer, if you want to rewatch any episode go to the GP section and then to Presentations, (log in using covgp for both GMC and password). Any queries, please contact gpteachingadmin@uhcw.nhs.uk​

 

As Monday 10 August 2020 at 5:53pm, the total number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths is 46,526.

Monday 10 August 2020 at 5:53pm, 311,641people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.

NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England to partnership with local authorities to reach more people testing positive and their contacts

Shoppers across the UK have been urged to do their bit and take part in Shop Local Week (10-16 August) to help local businesses rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic.

Latest advice is here

Notification to organisations to share information

22.. COVID-19: Primary Care Bulletin - 6 August 2020 (Issue 61)

Dr Nikki Kanani, the GP and Medical Director for Primary Care and Gabi Darby, Deputy Director for GP Contracts bring the latest news in their most recent letter on a wide range of subjects of interest to primary care, click here to view

23. Third phase of General Practice response to COVID-19

Updated on Friday 31 July, this is;

• sets out priorities for the rest of 2020/21; and 

• outline financial arrangements heading into Autumn as agreed with Government available here

24. COVID-19 General Practice Webinar Recordings and slides

An archive of the national primary care webinars and slides are available online from the NHS Future NHS site: https://future.nhs.uk/P_C_N/view?objectID=19549104 (a login is required).

25. Media enquiries

A reminder that our communications team is here to support you if needed. If you are approached by the media, please forward on to your local communications team: agem.communications@nhs.net. Outside of working hours the communications team can be reached via 01522 537887.