GPC CQC Survey
The GPC are conducting an important survey of practices about their experiences and the impact of CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspections. This comes at a time when the CQC has announced proposals for an unjustified, illogical and punitive seven-fold increase in GP fees. In 2015 the Local Medical Committees Conference and BMA Annual Representative Meeting voted to end the current inspection process on the basis of it being unfit for purpose. Furthermore, the BMA’s biggest-ever GP survey last year revealed that over-regulation is in the top four negative factors impacting on GPs. The results of this new survey will help GPC argue the case from the first-hand experience of GP practices. The survey covers the impact on practices in preparing for and coping with a CQC inspection. It will strengthen the GPC position to hear from as many practices as possible, including those yet to receive CQC inspections. Please complete the short survey. GPC are requesting one response per GP practice, which may be completed by a lead GP or practice manager. The survey should take no more than five to 10 minutes to complete. Your views will help inform discussions at the LMC special conference on 30 January, towards developing practical solutions to address the crisis in general practice.

Changes to Medical Records Movement & Supplies Management
Over the next few months, Primary Care Support England (PCSE) is changing how medical records are moved for all practices in England. Please see this flyer for further details They will introduce a standard process and practices will be able to check where any record for any of their registered patients is at any time, whether it be in storage or in movement across the country. At the same time, they will introduce a new, national supplies management service which will provide a quick and easy online way of ordering and tracking supplies. Both services will be accessed through the new PCSE portal, and practices will receive details on how to register on the portal in the next few weeks. The changes will be introduced in stages with a national record movement trial using a blank document in place of a medical record commencing 8 February 2016. During the first week of February, each practice will receive a Medical Record Envelope (MRE), a transit label for a single record movement and a shipping bag. Inside the MRE will be further instructions on what to do next. Shortly after the record movement trial, they will roll out the new process to practices in West Yorkshire using live medical records, and then nationally to all other practices in spring 2016. The record movement trial and the subsequent new process will apply to all practices in England. All practices will receive this communication over the next week. If you have any queries, please email PCSEngland@capita.co.uk.

Avoiding Unplanned Admissions Payments
Update with regard to the GPC/NHS E discussions around non-payment due to contract wording ambiguity. GPC have successfully negotiated agreement with NHS England that full payment will be made to all practices that have completed a review on their patients on the register by 31 March 2016, on the condition that they also fulfil the other requirements of the enhanced service. If your practice has been affected, please contact your area team. If you still have difficulties, please contact janice.foster@nhs.net or email gpc@bma.org.uk.

The specification requires practices to conduct a single annual review during 2015/16 on patients who were previously on the register as of 1 April 2015. However, the payment in the September claim was based on whether a review on existing patients occurred in the immediate 12 months prior. This meant that practices planning to complete their annual reviews throughout 2015/16 may have missed out if these were carried out after September thus failing to receive full payment for their September 2015 claims of the avoiding unplanned admissions enhanced service, owing to ambiguity in wording in the specification.

Last Order & Expiry Date of FluMist Nasal Vaccine
The latest special edition of the PHE vaccine update includes information relating to:

• Last orders of LAIV (FluMist® Quadrivalent) for the childhood flu programme
• Expiration dates for LAIV vaccine

In particular, please note the following in relation to expiry date of FluMist:
“To ensure timely supply, changes in the supply schedule were required. This has resulted in a mismatch between the actual expiry date and that printed on the packaging and labelling. The two batches of FluMist quadrivalent being supplied (FL2113 & FL2118) must not be used after the 24 February 2016. This does not affect the safety, quality or efficacy of the batches. In agreement with the MHRA, a pre-planned withdrawal of any unused stock of FluMist quadrivalent will begin on the 25 January 2016. This will help ensure that no time-expired vaccine remains in circulation. AstraZeneca’s logistics provider, Movianto, will contact you to arrange collection. Please quarantine any unused FluMist quadrivalent ahead of 24 February 2016. This should avoid accidental administration prior to collection’.Batches of UK labelled Fluenz Tetra will not be subject to the withdrawal and may be used up to the expiry date stated on the carton and nasal applicator.”

and that of Fluenz Tetra:
Fluenz Tetra® for 2015/16 has been supplied with expiry dates ranging from 28 December 2015 and 18 January 2016. The list below shows the batch numbers and their expiry dates. Practices should always check the expiry date before administering, dispose of expired vaccines in line with local policies and record any stock disposed of due to expiry on ImmForm.

Cessation of National Supply of Paracetamol Sachets for the MenB Immunisation Programme
Public Health England (PHE) informed that as the temporary supplies of paracetamol sachets, to be given after the doses of the Men B vaccinations for infants have been given, have been fully distributed, the central supply of paracetamol sachets is being phased out. The updated patient leaflets make it clear that parents will need to make arrangements to have infant paracetamol at home in time for their baby’s first immunisation appointment, and practices will be able to  order these leaflets in paper copy, to be handed out at the time of the vaccination, from late December through the DH Orderline.

MDU Medico Legal Advice
The MDU has advised GPC that it wishes to dispel the myth that MDU members could be disadvantaged if they contact their 24 hour medico-legal advice service. One of the MDU’s core services is to provide expert medico-legal advice to members and they positively encourage members to call for advice at any time; whether pre-emptively when they need guidance on how to approach a potential matter, or when something has gone wrong. The MDU receive over 30,000 calls from members to its advice-line every year helping members to avoid potential problems and to mitigate the position if a problem has arisen. The MDU very positively encourages members to contact it whenever they need it’s input.

Contact details are:
UK 0800 716 646
Ireland – 1800 535 935
Fax (UK) 020 7202 1662
Email: advistory@themdu.com
Website: http://www.themdu.com/about-mdu/contact-us

Updated PGD & PSD Guidance
The GPC guidance Patient Group Directions and Patient Specific Directions in General Practice has been redrafted to clarify the position of PSDs, confirming that they do not necessarily have to be in written form, but can also be a verbal instruction.

QoF Business Rules V 33.0 and FAQs
Version 33.0 of the Business Rules have been published and these FAQs may prove helpful. In addition to the usual changes where new codes have been added to clusters, some codes have also been removed from some QOF register clusters. This does not usually happen in-year but there were clinical reasons for doing so. The changes affected heart failure, the asthma register and CKD register. Note that these changes are effective from 1 October 2015.

CQC Registration for Federations Webinar
CQC held a webinar in relation to GP Federations on Tuesday 12 January with CQC Registration Advisor Andy Brown presenting. Unfortunately we have just been made aware of this webinar but a video recording will be made available via CQC’s monthly briefing for Providers. You can sign up to receive these here: http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/get-our-newsletter.