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Coronavirus

This page is being regularly updated. If you are struggling to find something enter a key word or phrase in the 'search our website' box above.

The page is divided into three main sections:

  1. Updates for General Practice - our FAQs plus the most recent updates from the LMC and NHS.
  2. Resources and Documents - useful resources, divided into categories 
  3. Advice and Guidance - links to external sites which are regularly updated with new coronavirus guidance

1. Updates for General Practice:

LMC BAME Statement - 15 May 2020 LMC recommendations for practices for their workers from a BAME background - including risk assessment tools

Humberside LMCs FAQs Covid-19 - updated 15 May 2020

 This is a list of FAQs based on queries submitted by practices with responses complied by the LMC team. Updated regularly.

Coronavirus - LMC Update 22 May 2020

This is our weekly round up of new updates and guidance.

View previous editions of the update.  

Preparedness Update Letter for General Practice

 Latest regular update from NHSE/I to general practice regarding COVID-19.  

NHS England and NHS Improvement - Covid-19 Primary Care daily bulletin

View the latest daily NHSE/I bulletin. 

Sign up for NHSE/I Covid-19 Primary Care daily bulletin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Resources and Documents:

Care Homes
Fact sheet - care home testing - 13 May 2020 DHSC information on whole home testing for care home residents and staff. 
Care homes testing matrix Government information on how to get the test for care home residents and staff. 
Roll out of care home testing - 13 May 2020 DHSC letter outlining the roll out of testing for care homes.
COVID-19 response: Identifying a clinical lead for all care homes - 12 May 2020 NHSEI letter setting out requirement for a named clinical lead for each CQC-registered care home.
COVID-19 response: Primary care and community health support care home residents - 01 May 2020 NHS guidance on primary care and community health services help to support care homes in the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical
Priority Medicines for Palliative and End of Life Care during a Pandemic - 06 May 2020 Clinical guidance approved by NHSE for essential end of life medicines; sets out the first and second choices for these medicines. 

Notifiable diseases (weblinks):

 Please note that COVID 19 is a notifiable disease and that there is a statutory requirement for GPs to report cases. See our FAQs for a summary. 
Clinical guidelines for the control of symptoms in the COVID-19 patient in a community setting - 02 April 2020 Guidance from HERPC (Hull and East Riding Prescribing Committee). Prepared by the palliative care team including input from geriatricians, Macmillian pharmacists and GPs. 
North Yorkshire and York CCGs Remote assessment of Covid-19 - 02 April 2020 Guidelines developed for the North Yorkshire area. Please note the document is not endorsed by NHSE or any other medical body. 
Remote consultations: a quick guide to assessing patients by video or voice call - 25 March 2020  A one page inforgraphic from the BMJ.
Warfarin - Safe Switching Guidance  Guidance for the safe switching of warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for patients with non-valvular AF and venous thromboembolism (DVT / PE) during the coronavirus pandemic
Advice on maintaining cancer treatment during the COVID-19 response - 30 March 2020 NHSE guidance on maintaining cancer treatment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death Certification
COVID-19: death certification and cremation during the coronavirus pandemic (weblink) Link to BMA guidance page on verification and certification of death and cremation for a temporary period during which emergency measures are in place to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.
Cremation Medical Certificate (weblink) The Cremation Medical Certificate (form 4) has been updated to provide for a medical practitioner completing the form on their computer or other device to embed an electronic signature. This will enable the form to be sent via another person’s email account, such as a medical administrator, without the form having to be first printed and signed.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): verification of death in times of emergency (weblink) Guidance has also been produced by the Government on Coronavirus (COVID-19): verification of death in times of emergency. This guidance is designed to clarify existing practice for the verification of death outside of hospitals and to provide a framework for safe verification of death in this coronavirus emergency period.
Guidance for Remote Verification ofExpected Death (VoED) Out of Hospital - 12 May 2020 BMA/RCGP guidance for designed to provide remote support for people (such as care workers) who have not had training in verifying death so that the verification process can be completed by a clinician safely and speedily. Only to be used in an emergency situation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic Abuse
Coronavirus: Safety Advice for Survivors (website link) Advice from Women's Aid on accessing help with domestic abuse in the coronavirus pandemic. 

 

 

 

Hospitals
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust - Referral Arrangements - 11 May 2020 This process has been agreed by NLAG, NL and NEL CCGs, and relates to referrals to Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. The LMC have been involved in the discussions on this document. The process outlined will be under constant review.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Statement for GPs - 03 April 2020 Statement for the attention of local GPs with an update on referrals, communications, X-ray, and testing. 
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Information for Primary Care - Elective Care - Referrals and Waiting Lists during Covid-19 Pandemic – Information for GPs (v2) - 03 April 2020 A short guide for GPs to how the Trust is managing referrals and waiting lists for various departments during the pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indemnity
Clinical negligence indemnity in response to Coronavirus - 04 April 2020 Joint letter from the Department for Health and Social Care, NHS Resolution, and NHS England and NHS Improvement: clinical negligence indemnity in response to Coronavirus.
Clinical Negligence Scheme for Coronavirus - weblink NHS Resolution information on the scheme to meet liabilities arising from the special healthcare arrangements being put in place in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Includes FAQs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Locum GPs
BMA Model Terms for Locum GP Contract for Temporary Employment (weblink) - April 2020 BMA practice/provider agreement: model terms of engagement for a GP providing temporary COVID-19 services. They can be used for the temporary engagement of a GP by a GP practice or other primary care provider for COVID-19 services and are recommended by the BMA as good practice.

 

 

 

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Urgent PPE Supplies in Primary Care - 17 April 2020 This letter from NHSE outlines the process for accessing urgent PPE for Primary Care Services in the circumstance where you are expecting to run out of supplies within 72 hours.
Considerations for acute PPE shortages ​​​​​​(NHSE weblink) - April 2020 This document aims to highlight the sessional use and reuse of PPE when there are severe shortages of supply.
Update on access to PPE and local PPE escalation process - 01 April 2020 An update from the Department of Health and Social Care on access to PPE. Includes guidance on when to contact the national supply disruption line and what information to have to hand when contacting them. Document includes a local Covid-19 PPE escalation process flowchart.
Updated Guidance - COVID-19 personal protective equipment - 02 April 2020 This revised guidance concerns use of PPE by health and social care workers, in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. It supersedes previous PPE guidance. 
Recommended PPE for primary, outpatient and community care by setting - 02 April 2020 One page chart showing what type of PPE should be used in primary care settings. Based on updated PPE guidance issued 02 April 2020. 
PHE You Tube Channel (weblink) Videos on correct use of PPE. See also useful videos from a consultant at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.  ​​​​​
PPE Suppliers - Practice Feedback- 30 April 2020 List of additional suppliers that have been utilised by practices locally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice Management
Bank Holiday 25 May 2020 - see our news item . 

Reimbursement of revenue costs incurred relating to Covid-19: Allowable costs (April 2020)

Latest guidance states that NHSE/I will reimburse any additional revenue costs as part of the wider finance agreement on Covid-19. Current guidance defines valid additional revenue costs as being genuine, reasonable additional marginal costs. Such costs include: 

  • Evidenced increases in staffing costs compared to baseline
  • Increases in temporary staff cover due to sickness absence/caring responsibilities
  • Payments to bank staff and sub-contractor staff to cover sickness /caring responsibilities
  • Equipment needed including PPE and hand sanitiser
  • Decontamination and transport

This list of Covid-19-related expenses has been developed by the LMC as a guide for practices that we consider appropriate to seek reimbursement for from CCGs. 
NHSEI Letter: Second Phase of NHS Response to Covid-19 - 30 April 2020 Letter from Simon Stevens, NHS Chief Executive and Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Operating Officer outlining steps for NHS organisations to take. 
GP Connect: CCAS and NHS111 telephone bookings - 15 April 2020  How practices can configure systems to enable Covid-19 Central Assessment Service and NHS111 to book appointments.  
Legal Issues re Covid and Contracts - 14 April Guidance from NW LMCs on new legal powers brought in due to the pandemic. 
PCNs: Template Contingency Plans - 15 April 2020 This template, prepared by one of our PCN’s has been shared for others to adapt and use. You may wish to adapt or use as a starting point for your own plan.
CQC: Responding to Coronavirus - 09 April 2020 Guidance for general practice from the CQC's Senior National GP Advisor . Includes: notifications to CQC; and hot hubs/red sites. 
Staff Absence Tracker (weblink) NHS England and NHS Improvement have provided the Coronavirus Absence Tracker to assist in managing Covid 19 related staff absence.
Standard Operating Procedures for General Practice (weblink)  Links to the latest version of the Standard Operating Procedures for General Practice in the context of Coronavirus. 
Remote Access Solution (RAS) User Guide v2.2 - April 2020 Guidance from the NHS NYH team on how users can be authorised to have a RAS account, and how to set up and log in to the account. 
Remote consultations and home working ​​​​​​(weblink) This guidance from the BMA supports doctors in any healthcare setting to conduct remote consultations during the pandemic. 
Data Protection and Coronavirus (weblink) Data protection and coronavirus information hub published by the Information Commissioner's Office. 
RIDDOR reporting of Covid-19 (weblink) Link to HSE information on when reporting under RIDDOR is required for Covid-19.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staffing and Volunteering
NHS Volunteer Responders slides - 09 April 2020 Slides from NHSE and the Royal Voluntary Service showing how to make referrals to the NHS volunteer responders. 
NHS Volunteer Responders information for health professionals (version 1) - 31 March 2020  This document gives guidance on what roles NHS volunteer responders will be doing to support patients and how practices can make referrals.
NHS Staff: Hotel Accommodation - 20 March 2020 This document from NHSE/I sets out how NHS staff can access hotel accommodation, paid for by the NHS, if they are affected by the 14 day household isolation rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testing for Key Workers and Household Members
See our COVID-19 - Key Worker Testing guidance page for the latest position for general practice staff and access to testing in Hull, East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. 
Clinical Interpretation of Test Results for Key Workers and Household Members - 01 May 2020 This guidance summarises the eligibility criteria for testing of key workers and recommendations to aid the interpretation of test results.

 

 

 

 

 

Vulnerable/At Risk Patients and Shielding
Shielded Patients List: Guidance for General Practice (weblink) NHS Digital guidance to ensure the right patients are identified as needing to be shielded, as they are at high risk from developing complications from coronavirus.
Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 (weblink) Guidance for the public from gov.uk. 
Summary of support offers available to those shielding and other vulnerable groups - 30 April 2020 NHSE presentation summarising support available to shielded patients and those who are vulnerable. 
Identifying patients at highest risk from COVID-19: advice for GPs (BMA weblink) Guidance from the BMA GPs committee England on the list of at-risk patients and shielding arrangements. 
Highest Clinical Risk Patients​​​​ (weblink)

This is the NHS guidance on shielding patients and caring for those at the highest clinical risk. Includes:

  • FAQs for clinicians 
  • Update on the government's shielding policy and implications for general practice
  • At risk patient letter (updated version)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women and Children's Health
Tonsillar examination in children and infection risk Infection control implications for asymptomatically infected children. Produced by RCPCH and the British Paediatric Allergy Immunity & Infection Group.
How to manage contraceptive provision without face to face consultations A resource to manage contraception through telephone consultation during the pandemic including extensions to coil and implant use. Published by Primary Care Women's Health Forum. 
Coronavirus and helping children with autism Webinars to signpost parents / carers of autistic children who are struggling with the changes brought about by the pandemic. Hosted by the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Advice and guidance:

 

 

NHS England and NHS Improvement: Coronavirus - Primary Care These pages have links to the up-to-date guidance healthcare professionals need to respond to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Gov.UK: Guidance for Health Professionals Information on COVID-19, including guidance on the assessment and management of suspected UK cases.
Public Health England: Coronavirus Resources   Advice for the public on how to protect themselves and others, and how to stop the spread of the virus. 
Advice for the Public Advice for the public on what to do if they have symptoms, how to stop it spreading, travel advice, and information on how the government is responding. 
Ask for a test to check if you have coronavirus  Online portal to ask for a test for people who have symptoms. Practice staff are recommended to use the CCG route for prioritsed testing - see our key worker testing page . 
BMA - Covid-19: Toolkit for GPs and GP Practices Comprehensive guidance for GPs, partners and practice managers to manage employment and contractual issues and service provision during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Royal College of General Practitioners - Covid-19 Guidance Resources from the RCGP include FAQS and a resource hub. 
Doctors of the World - Coronavirus Information Latest NHS guidelines translated into 60 languages, produced in partnership with the British Red Cross.  
HERPC (Hull and East Riding Prescribing Committee) Hull and East Riding Prescribing Committee addresses prescribing and medicines management issues across primary and secondary care.
Humber Local Resilience Forum The Humber Local Resilience Forum (Humber LRF) is a multi-agency partnership made of representatives from local public services, the emergency services, local authorities, the NHS, the Environment Agency and others.

  

Updated on 22 May 2020, 1957 views