Coventry & Warwickshire COVID-19 Portal

For all clickable links, please click on the attachments.

**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

Coventry and Warwickshire COVID position up to 13.07.2020

3,841 cases now confirmed in Coventry and Warwickshire (+44 / +1.2% from Thursday)

11 of these are currently admitted (+2 / +22.2% from Thursday)

Admissions by Trust:

GEH: 7

UHCW: 3

SWFT: 1

CWPT: 0

504 beds still available (+56 / +12.5% from Thursday)

0 ITU beds occupied by Covid patients (+0 / from Thursday)

529 reported deaths in a hospital setting (+3 / +0.6% from Thursday)

Download the weekly data pack.

1. Shielding update

A letter dated 8 July from Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England and Professor Stephen Powis, NHS Medical Director has been shared with Primary Care with an update on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19. The letter is a follow up to the communication from 22nd June to outline planned changes to the government’s guidance and also contains additional advice from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and provides three key updates:

Annex 1 sets out key points about the updated guidance the Government has now published which applies from 6 July 2020, as well as information on maintaining the shielded patient list (SPL).

Annex 2 sets out key points about local lockdown measures and how they relate to shielding and protecting people who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable.

Annex 3 provides details on what this guidance means in relation to children and young people and how we expect this guidance to be implemented. In summary, the updated guidance confirms that the majority of children currently considered clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 will be able to be removed from the SPL following consultation with their specialist clinician or GP. All children and young people currently identified as clinically extremely vulnerable should now be reviewed and, where appropriate, removed from the SPL.

The full letter is available to download.

2. Investigation of the deaths of healthcare and social care workers who contracted the coronavirus 

On 29 May 2020, the Secretary of State wrote to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee describing a process for investigating the deaths of healthcare and social care workers who died after contracting the coronavirus. This letter provides information about the process and what it means for NHS organisations. There is also additional information for lead medical examiners and medical examiners.

3. EMIS: COVID-19 Care Pathway template updates, Patient Access Password Security and more...

This week in the EMIS Support newsletter… 

COVID-19 Care Pathway template updates (July 2020): We've made some changes to the COVID-19 Care Pathway template. All the changes are detailed here. 

Patient Access Password Security:Two important new security measures will be implemented in Patient Access by the end of July. Please read the information here which explains what these measures are and why we are introducing them.

4. An update on Primary Care COVID-19 antibody testing

Although over 80% of the antibody tests undertaken via this new process are being resulted within 72 hours, there are some tests that are taking longer to result than anticipated. Your result should be with you within a week of your sample being taken. If it has not arrived after eight days please email covidstafftesting@uhcw.nhs.uk stating the name and DOB of the individual tested.

Please do not chase your result by calling your registered GP or the lab.

Remember that consent forms printed off when you book your test need to be given to your employing organisation to be kept in your HR Record, see further detail in the table below: 

• Annex 3 provides details on what this guidance means in relation to children and young people and how we expect this guidance to be implemented. In summary, the updated guidance confirms that the majority of children currently considered clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 will be able to be removed from the SPL following consultation with their specialist clinician or GP. All children and young people currently identified as clinically extremely vulnerable should now be reviewed and, where appropriate, removed from the SPL.

Staff Group Consent form to be kept by:

Staff and GPs employed by Practice GP Practice employee HR record

SWGP Fed and GP Alliance Locums Employing organisation

Self employed GP Locums Retain own copy and leave copy with practice where Ab test ordered

Blood samples need to be on a transport to the lab on the same day they are taken to ensure integrity of the sample. When registering, it is really important to include your accurate details, including full name – these are being matched to the lab records to ensure that right result is being sent to the right person and to the correct registered GP. If these details are not correct your test result may be delayed or void.

To date, up to and including 8 July, 677 antibody tests have processed – 15.8% have the antibody detected.

 

Finally, for full details on how to request an antibody test follow this link www.cwcovid.support

 

If you have any problems with the booking system please contact covidstafftesting@uhcw.nhs.uk 

Thank you for your patience and your support is appreciated.

5. Warwickshire update

The latest update from Warwickshire County Council and includes new guidance for people who have been self-isolating (shielding) since late March was introduced this week, and the Council has been using the opportunity to reflect on the support offered to this group in the intervening weeks.

6. Cancellation of elective procedures at University Hospitals of Leicester

A letter from Andrew Furlong, Medical Director of University Hospitals of Leicester around their cancellation of elective procedures.

7. How to contact Warwickshire Police

A poster has been produced by Warwickshire Police which details the various ways to contact them, please make available through your practices.

UPDATES FOR Coventry and Rugby – 14 July 2020

8. Coventry Clinical Membership Meeting

Dear Colleague, now, more than ever with the changes that are coming and with the impact of Covid-19 it seems timely to re-establish the Coventry Clinical Membership meetings to share more directly some of the work that the CCG is progressing and to engage more closely with you as Members of the CCG. 

The intention is to schedule meetings directly following the lunch time education session for Coventry practices with the first being: Wednesday 15th July, 2pm - 3pm which will be through MS Teams link. Join Microsoft Teams Meeting. Download the invite

This will be a valuable opportunity for the CCG to share the latest information and seek Members views on developments / proposals and to work more closely with Members throughout this Covid-19 recovery phase and further beyond that. Each practice attending will of course receive remuneration for their time for a Clinical Lead attendance and involvement in these discussions at a rate of £100 per practice (GP attendance rate). I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Dr Sarah Raistrick

9. Summer Holiday Breakfast Club - Coventry only

The Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the power of community. In Coventry, community centres have taken an active lead in the distribution of essential food supplies to people who have been shielding and who are vulnerable. Coventry City Council has helped to draw the city together, working in partnership with voluntary, community and other organisations to create an emergency food network. Within this network food hubs were set up throughout the city to ensure that food was provided to those who were in greatest need. The Food Hubs offer a range of community-based support. Including: Summer activities for children, Grub hubs and Foodbank. This leaflet provides information on each.

UPDATES FOR South Warwickshire – 14 July 2020 

10. Protected Learning Time - 15 July 2020

This week's Protected Learning Time session takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 15 July, is being delivered online via Zoom form 1.15pm. The agenda covers: 

Frailty in primary care - past, present and future, an overview of pre-covid work on frailty, managing frailty during Covid and how this will influence frailty services in the future (various speakers)

Restoring services in primary care (Sue Phillips)

Endoscopy in the Covid era (Ian Allwood and Jeremy Shearman)

To access the session, registration is via the dedicated Zoom page.

UPDATES FOR Warwickshire North – 14 July 2020

No updates this issue.

Please note all sessions are open to all localities

11. The adult breathless patient and how to manage them webinar provided by Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd

These online webinars take place on:

Wednesday 15 July 12.30pm to 2pm

Saturday 18 July 10.00am to 11.30am

 

Mrs Beverley Bostock, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and clinical lecturer, has expressed a desire to make contact with Heath Care Professionals during this time through a live Microsoft Teams Speaker Meeting. The objective is to discuss the adult breathless patient and how to manage them. Online and Telephone Consultations have become important for managing patients, the presentation will focus on this type of consultation as Health Care Professionals learn to make the most of this medium. If you would like to be part of this meeting please respond to laina.tebbutt@boehringer-ingelheim.com. We will be limiting attendees so a prompt response would be appreciated. On receipt of your email request we will send out a formal invite and agenda along with the MS Teams link in order for you to join on the day.

12. Domestic Violence and Abuse training and referral programme

IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) is a general-practice based domestic violence and abuse training, support and referral programme for primary care staff. The Warwickshire IRIS team has set up some more mop-up sessions for those who were unable to attend the previous sessions. If you are unable to make these set dates, please email your IRIS AE with dates of your availability and we can book in a session for your surgery.

 

Clinician Refresher (19/08/2020 @ 12:30pm) - This is a refresher of Clinician 1 and 2 and 2 hours, which is open to all clinicians that have previously completed Clinician 1 and 2.

Reception/Admin (23/07/2020 @ 12:30pm) - This is a 1 hour session for reception and admin staff.

The sessions will be run via Zoom, you do not need a zoom account for this, a link will be sent via a calendar invite.

The team can be reached via email: South Warwickshire- Farah_Hameed@refuge.org.uk, North Warwickshire- rebekah_read@refuge.org.uk; Rugby & Leamington- laura_ruff@refuge.org.uk

13. 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. Links to the Zoom talk will be published on the site under flyers 48 hours before the session. 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

14. Warwickshire North Virtual education sessions

A number of virtual education sessions that have taken place in Warwickshire North are now available to view. Subjects including heart failure and lower GI and breast cancers are amongst areas discussed. If you are interested in finding out more click here.

As of 5pm on 12 July, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 44,830 have died across all settings.

As of 9am on 13 July, 290,133 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.

Latest advice is here

97.5% of in person coronavirus tests returned next day

Deaths of homeless people involving COVID-19, England and Wales: deaths registered up to 26 June 2020

Latest local figures published by GOV.uk and PHE are as of on Monday 13 July 2020 at 3:56pm, there are a total of 25,821 cases in the West Midlands. 

Regional R-rates: The latest figures relating to regional R-rates can be found here.

15. NHS England Primary Care Bulletin – 10 July

COVID-19: latest guidance for general practice is issued in the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin from 10 July. This issue has an update on staff risk assessments, the letter detailing the second phase of the general practice response to COVID-19, the GP patient survey 2020 and the updated shielding guidance changes for children. The regular COVID-19 Primary Care Bulletin is from Dr Nikki Kanani and Ed Waller and you are encouraged to sign up here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/email-bulletins/general-practice-bulletin/. 

16. Second phase of General Practice response to COVID-19

Updated guidance and publications to GP contracts and income protection arrangements are available to view here.

17. 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).

18. 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. 

19. Please review the updated shielding guidance.